Differences in tobacco use between Canada and the United States

This study explores differences in who smokes (smoker type) and exposure to smoking (pack-years) between Canada and the US. Both countries have policies to limit the number of smokers and smoking-related deaths.

This research uses The Joint Canada/United States Survey of Health (JCUSH) and employs multinomial logistic regression and ordinary least squares regression.

In Canada, native-born, young, White males without a degree, with poor health and who had been previously married predominate in smoking. This profile is the same for the US. However, different characteristics predict exposure to smoking for the two countries. Native-born males without a degree, with poor health and who had been previously married smoked more cigarettes per day in Canada. For the US, younger individuals smoked more cigarettes per day.

If countries want to focus on limiting the number of new cases of smokers, the target population is different from the target population that should be used if countries are interested in converting smokers into non-smokers, based on the demographic analyses presented.