Supplier Name: Environics Research
Contract Number: HT372-215049/001/CY
Contract Value: $207,954.80 (including HST)
Award Date: 2022-01-12
Delivery Date: 2022-05-12
Registration Number: POR 097-21
For more information on this report, please contact Health Canada at: hc.cpab.por-rop.dgcap.sc@canada.ca
Prepared for Health Canada by Environics Research
May 2022
This public opinion research report presents the results of a quantitative research study conducted by Environics Research on behalf of Health Canada, comprising an online survey with 4,815 Canadians aged 15 or older who are regular vapers, conducted from March 4 – April 8, 2022.
This publication may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes only. Prior written permission must be obtained from Health Canada. For more information on this report, please contact Health Canada at: hc.cpab.por-rop.dgcap.sc@canada.ca
©His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2022
Cat. No. H14-415/2022E-PDF
ISBN 978-0-660-45601-0
Cette publication est aussi disponible en français sous le titre Étude longitudinale sur le vapotage, 2022 - Rapport final
PDF:
Cat. No. H14-415/2022F-PDF
ISBN 978-0-660-45600-3
The Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA) regulates the manufacture, sale, labelling and promotion of tobacco products and vaping products sold in Canada. The TVPA creates a new legal framework for regulating vaping products to protect young persons from nicotine addiction and tobacco use, while allowing adults to legally access vaping products as a less harmful alternative to tobacco. Health Canada identified a need for transitional data to provide key insights into how changeable (or not) an individual's use behaviour can be over time, any factors influencing those changes (e.g., biases), and any factors that could be influenced by those changes (e.g., health self-ratings).
The main objective of this research is to understand patterns of use, attitudes and behaviours at the individual level with respect to vaping among Canadians who are regular vapers aged 15 years and older. This research will be designed to serve as a baseline, should Health Canada wish to measure changes in vaping behaviour using a return-to-sample methodology in the subsequent two years.
Specific research objectives include, but are not limited to, the following:
This research study consisted of a national online survey of 4,815 Canadians aged 15 or older who vaped at least once a week in the previous four weeks (also known as regular vapers). The incidence of regular vapers among Canadians 15+ is 3.4 percent nationally (per Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey [CTNS] 2020 data). The survey was conducted from March 4 – April 8, 2022. The sample was designed to (a) be as representative as possible of the regular vaper population by age, gender and province, and (b) to maximize the subsample of youth (15-19 years) and young adult (20-24 years) regular vapers, for adequate analysis in subsequent waves (despite expected attrition).
As this online survey utilized an opt-in panel, it is a non-probability survey and no margin of sampling error should be calculated. Reported percentages are not generalizable to any group other than the sample studied, and therefore no formal statistical inferences can be drawn between the sample results and the broader target population it may be intended to reflect.
The following completions were achieved:
| Age | 2020 Population | Regular vaper incidence (CTNS 2020) | Proportion of vaper population | Unweighted sample size | Proportion of total sample | Weighted sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-19 | 2,102,402 | 9.0% | 17% | 852 | 18% | 843 |
| 20-24 | 2,484,313 | 8.7% | 20% | 1,524 | 32% | 957 |
| 25+ | 27,408,756 | 2.5% | 63% | 2,439 | 50% | 3,015 |
| Total | 31,995,471 | 3.4% | 100% | 4,815 | 100% | 4,815 |
The contract value was $207,954.80 (including HST).
This report begins with an executive summary outlining key findings and conclusions, followed by a detailed analysis of the survey data. Provided under a separate cover is a detailed set of "banner tables" presenting the results for all questions by population segments as defined by region and demographics. These tables are referenced by the survey question in the detailed analysis.
In this report, quantitative results are expressed as percentages unless otherwise noted. Results may not add to 100% due to rounding or multiple responses. Net results cited in the text may not exactly match individual results shown in the tables due to rounding. Differences between subgroups are noted based on Z-test results at 95% probability for comparing proportions, and based on two-tailed T-test results at 95% probability for comparing means. Comparisons are based on differences between sub-groups, and not on differences compared to the total.
People who smoke, had formerly smoked, and vape are referred to as smokers, former smokers, and vapers, respectively, in the interest of brevity. Likewise, given that participants must have vaped on a regular basis, any reference to 'vaper' refers to someone that is a regular vaper.
Use of findings of the research. Data from this research will allow the Tobacco Control Directorate to understand and contextualize any recent changes in vaping prevalence.
In general, patterns of use in vapers are somewhat different between youth (age 15 to 19), young adults (20 to 24), and adults (25+). While there is overlap between age groups, among adults, vaping is more often used as a smoking cessation aide; this is evident in direct answers about their reasons for vaping, as well as their preferences and behaviours that point to vaping as a replacement for smoking. Among youth and young adults, vaping is more often a recreational activity and substance habit in its own right; many younger vapers take up vaping without ever being regular smokers, and they are more likely to be heavily dependent on vaping with nicotine compared to older vapers. Younger vapers are more likely to mention non-smoking reasons for vaping, prefer using flavoured liquids, and enjoy vaping in social settings. These patterns also extend to quitting vaping behaviour, and should be noted when considering approaches to reducing vaping behaviour overall; quitting vaping may be seen as less urgent for those using it to reduce or quit smoking. Detailed results for this study are outlined below.
I hereby certify as senior officer of Environics that the deliverables fully comply with the Government of Canada political neutrality requirements outlined in the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, and Procedures for Planning and Contracting Public Opinion Research. Specifically, the deliverables do not include information on electoral voting intentions, political party preferences, standings with the electorate, or ratings of the performance of a political party or its leaders.
Sarah Roberton
Vice President, Corporate and Public Affairs
Environics Research Group
sarah.roberton@environics.ca
Supplier name: Environics Research Group
PWGSC contract number: HT372-215072/001/CY
Original contract date: 2022-01-12
For more information, contact Health Canada at: hc.cpab.por-rop.dgcap.sc@canada.ca
The Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA) came into force on May 23, 2018, to regulate the manufacture, sale, labelling and promotion of tobacco products and vaping products sold in Canada. The TVPA creates a new legal framework for regulating vaping products to protect young persons from nicotine addiction and tobacco use, while allowing adults to legally access vaping products as a less harmful alternative to tobacco. However, there is limited understanding of the transition between products occurring among people who are smoking and using vaping products at the individual level.
The main objective of this research is to understand patterns of vape use at the individual level. The research will also gather attitudes and behaviours of Canadians who are regular vapers aged 15 years and older. This research will be designed to serve as a baseline, should Health Canada wish to measure changes in vaping behaviour using a return-to-sample methodology in the subsequent two years.
Specific research objectives include, but are not limited to, the following:
This report begins with an executive summary outlining the key findings of the survey, followed by a detailed analysis and breakdown of the results. Detailed descriptions of the methodology is presented in Appendix A, and the survey questionnaire is provided in Appendix B.
People who smoke, had formerly smoked, and vape are referred to as smokers, former smokers, and vapers, respectively, in the interest of brevity. Likewise, given that participants must have vaped on a regular basis, any reference to 'vaper' refers to someone that is a regular vaper.
Quantitative results are based on the entire sample unless otherwise noted. In this report, results are expressed as percentages unless otherwise noted. Results may not add to 100% due to rounding or multiple responses.
Only Age, Gender and Region were focused on in the subgroup analysis in this report. Other subgroups of potential interest, including vaping and smoking behaviour, Indigenous status, visible minorities, sexual orientation, etc. are included in the banner tables with statistical differences highlighted. Differences between subgroups are noted based on Z-test results at 95% probability for comparing proportions, and based on two-tailed T-test results at 95% probability for comparing means. Comparisons are based on differences between sub-groups, and not on differences compared to the total.
Provided under a separate cover is a detailed set of "banner tables" presenting the results for all survey questions by subgroup segments. These tables are referenced by the survey question in the detailed analysis.
The following table shows the profile of vapers in the study by usage.
| Characteristic | Total (n=4,815) |
Vapes daily (n=2,578) |
Vapes occasionally (n=2,237) |
Currently smokes (n=2,755) |
Former smoker (n=1,822) |
Never smoked regularly (n=1,692) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | ||||||
| Youth (15-19) | 17% | 19% | 16% | 12% | 5% | 40% |
| Young adult (20-24) | 20% | 20% | 19% | 17% | 13% | 32% |
| Adult (25+) | 63% | 61% | 64% | 71% | 81% | 28% |
| Gender | ||||||
| Female | 34% | 36% | 32% | 29% | 33% | 45% |
| Male | 65% | 63% | 68% | 71% | 66% | 54% |
| Gender diverse | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Prefer not to say | <1% | <1% | <1% | 0% | <1% | <1% |
| Region | ||||||
| BC/Territories | 16% | 15% | 16% | 14% | 18% | 16% |
| Alberta | 11% | 11% | 11% | 10% | 11% | 10% |
| Saskatchewan | 5% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% |
| Manitoba | 5% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 6% | 4% |
| Ontario | 30% | 30% | 30% | 32% | 25% | 31% |
| Quebec | 26% | 25% | 27% | 27% | 25% | 26% |
| Atlantic | 8% | 9% | 7% | 8% | 10% | 7% |
| Marital status | ||||||
| Never legally married lived with common-law partner | 42% | 43% | 42% | 37% | 30% | 64% |
| Legally married/not separated | 29% | 28% | 30% | 34% | 36% | 13% |
| Living with common-law partner | 16% | 15% | 16% | 16% | 18% | 11% |
| Separated, still legally married | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 1% |
| Divorced | 4% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 6% | 2% |
| Widowed | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 3% | <1% |
| Prefer not to say | 5% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 8% |
| Occupation | ||||||
| Senior/middle management | 19% | 20% | 17% | 23% | 15% | 10% |
| Professional | 17% | 15% | 19% | 16% | 18% | 18% |
| Technical/Paraprofessional | 9% | 8% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 10% |
| Sales and Service | 18% | 19% | 18% | 15% | 18% | 29% |
| Administrative, clerical and office support | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 12% | 10% |
| Industrial, electrical and construction trades | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 4% |
| Maintenance and equipment operation trades, installers, repairers, and material handlers | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 4% |
| Processing, manufacturing and utilities machine operators and assemblers | 4% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 6% | 3% |
| Construction, agricultural, forestry, fishing, landscaping labourer/general worker | 5% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 3% | 4% |
| Prefer not to say | 8% | 9% | 7% | 7% | 8% | 10% |
| Household income | ||||||
| NET: Under $40K | 26% | 29% | 23% | 24% | 25% | 30% |
| $40,000 to just under $60,000 | 16% | 16% | 17% | 17% | 18% | 13% |
| $60,000 to just under $80,000 | 14% | 13% | 15% | 16% | 12% | 14% |
| $80,000 to just under $100,000 | 14% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 13% | 12% |
| $100,000 to just under $150,000 | 16% | 16% | 16% | 17% | 18% | 14% |
| $150,000 and above | 8% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 8% |
| Identity | ||||||
| A member of a visible minority group | 23% | 20% | 27% | 26% | 12% | 25% |
| A member of the LGBTQ2+ community | 14% | 15% | 14% | 14% | 12% | 17% |
| None of the above | 65% | 68% | 63% | 63% | 77% | 61% |
| Indigenous identity | ||||||
| NET: Indigenous | 5% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 3% | 4% |
| First Nations | 3% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 2% | 2% |
| Métis | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% |
| Inuk (Inuit) | <1% | <1% | <1% | <1% | <1% | <1% |
| A non-Indigenous person | 81% | 79% | 83% | 79% | 88% | 81% |
| Prefer not to say | 14% | 15% | 12% | 14% | 9% | 15% |
| Education | ||||||
| NET: HS or less | 38% | 42% | 34% | 34% | 35% | 49% |
| Registered Apprenticeship/ other trades certificate/ diploma | 6% | 6% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 4% |
| College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate/diploma | 20% | 20% | 21% | 21% | 23% | 20% |
| University certificate/diploma below bachelor's level | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% |
| Bachelor's degree | 18% | 16% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 13% |
| Postgraduate degree above bachelor's level | 9% | 8% | 9% | 11% | 6% | 5% |
| Language most spoke at home | ||||||
| English | 77% | 78% | 76% | 79% | 75% | 76% |
| French | 20% | 20% | 20% | 19% | 22% | 20% |
| Other | 3% | 2% | 4% | 2% | 3% | 4% |
| Base: all respondents | ||||||
For the purposes of this baseline study, regular vapers are defined as only those who vaped at least once a week in the past 30 days. Among regular vapers, just over half (52%) vape on a daily basis. Daily vaping is most prevalent among youth (55%) and women (55%).
| QA2. During the past 30 days, how often have you used a vaping product with or without nicotine? | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | 52% | 55% | 53% | 51% |
| Net: Occasional vapers | 48% | 45% | 47% | 49% |
| Less than daily, but at least once a week | 48% | 45% | 47% | 49% |
| Base: all respondents | ||||
Women (55%) are more likely to vape on a daily basis compared to men (50%).
Among regular vapers, most vape with nicotine every day (48%) or on occasion (49%); very few say they did not vape with nicotine at all in the past 30 days (3%). Compared to older cohorts, youth are the most likely to vape with nicotine every day (52%).
Women (55%) are more likely to vape on a daily basis compared to men (50%).
| QB1. Which of the following best describes how often you vaped liquids with nicotine in the past 30 days? | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I vaped them every day | 48% | 52% | 50% | 46% |
| Net: Occasional vapers | 49% | 46% | 48% | 50% |
| I vaped them at least once a week, but not daily | 43% | 41% | 41% | 45% |
| I vaped them less than weekly, but at least once in the past 30 days | 6% | 5% | 7% | 5% |
| Not at all | 3% | 3% | 2% | 4% |
| Base: all respondents | ||||
Other sub-groups more likely to report daily vaping with nicotine in include:
One in five vapers (20%) say they vape without nicotine every day, and close to half (48%) vape these products occasionally; one in three (32%) selected 'not at all' (i.e., they vaped with nicotine or not knowing the nicotine content). Adults age 25+ are the most likely to vape without nicotine on a daily basis (21%), closely followed by young adults (20%).
| QB2. Which of the following best describes how often you vaped liquids without nicotine in the past 30 days? | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I vaped them every day | 20% | 18% | 20% | 21% |
| Net: Occasional vapers | 48% | 41% | 48% | 50% |
| I vaped them at least once a week, but not daily | 35% | 26% | 33% | 37% |
| I vaped them less than weekly, but at least once in the past 30 days | 13% | 15% | 15% | 13% |
| Not at all | 32% | 42% | 32% | 29% |
| Base: all respondents | ||||
Other groups more likely to report daily vaping without nicotine include:
One in five vapers (21%) report that, in the past 30 days, they vaped liquids every day that they weren't sure contained nicotine or not. Another four in ten (43%) vape these types of products occasionally. In total, this means that two-thirds (64%) of vapers are not always sure of the nicotine content of their vaping products. Vaping products while uncertain about nicotine content is less common among youth (17%) compared to older vapers (22%).
| QB3. Which of the following best describes how often you vaped liquids you weren't sure contained nicotine or not in the past 30 days? | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I vaped them every day | 21% | 17% | 22% | 22% |
| Net: Occasional vapers | 43% | 39% | 44% | 44% |
| I vaped them at least once a week, but not daily | 32% | 27% | 30% | 34% |
| I vaped them less than weekly, but at least once in the past 30 days | 11% | 12% | 14% | 10% |
| Not at all | 36% | 44% | 34% | 34% |
| Base: all respondents | ||||
Those more likely to vape products on a daily basis, where they are uncertain about nicotine content include:
Among those who vape with nicotine, one in five (18%) have their first vape of the day within five minutes of waking, and 40 percent do so within 30 minutes. Youth (23%) and young adults (21%) are more likely to report vaping with nicotine within five minutes of waking than are adults (15%).
| QB4. How soon after you wake up do you usually have your first vape with nicotine? | Total (n=4,666) |
Youth (15-19) (n=830) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,483) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,353) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 5 minutes | 18% | 23% | 21% | 15% |
| 6 to 30 minutes | 40% | 30% | 37% | 44% |
| 31 minutes to 1 hour | 19% | 16% | 20% | 19% |
| More than 1 hour | 23% | 30% | 22% | 22% |
| Base: Those who vape with nicotine | ||||
Other sub-groups of vapers who are more likely to vape within five minutes of waking include:
Half of regular vapers (49%) vape 10 times a day or fewer; adults aged 25+ are more likely to vape at this frequency (54%). One in four (25%) vape 31 or more times in a day; vaping this frequently is more common among youth (39%) and young adult vapers (34%).
| QB5A. On days you use them, please estimate how many separate times per day you usually vape with nicotine? | Total (n=4,666) |
Youth (15-19) (n=830) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,483) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,353) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net: 1-10 | 49% | 39% | 41% | 54% |
| 5 or less times per day | 32% | 26% | 29% | 35% |
| 6 – 10 times per day | 17% | 13% | 13% | 19% |
| Net: 11-20 | 17% | 15% | 15% | 18% |
| 11 – 15 times per day | 10% | 8% | 9% | 11% |
| 16 – 20 times per day | 8% | 8% | 7% | 8% |
| Net: 21-30 | 9% | 7% | 9% | 9% |
| 21 – 25 times per day | 5% | 4% | 6% | 5% |
| 26 – 30 times per day | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Net: 31+ | 25% | 39% | 34% | 19% |
| 31 or more times per day | 4% | 5% | 6% | 3% |
| I vape continuously throughout the day | 21% | 34% | 28% | 16% |
| Base: Those who vape with nicotine | ||||
Infrequent vaping (1 to 10 times per day) is more common among men (52%) compared to women (43%).
Very frequent vaping (31+ times per day) is more common among these groups:
The Heaviness of Vaping with Nicotine Index (HVNI) measures a vaper's nicotine dependence. This metric is calculated based on the timing of each respondent's first vape of the day with nicotine (QB4), and the number of vapes per day with nicotine (QB5A); each vaper is assigned a score based on how early they vape and how often they vape in a day. Half of vapers can be categorized as low dependence (52%) based on this calculation, while one in four (26%) are moderately dependent and the remaining 22% qualify as highly dependent on nicotine. Adult vapers are more likely to be low dependence vapers (56%), while youth and young adults are more likely to be high dependence vapers (34% and 28%, respectively). Note that the formula for calculating HVNI can be found in the detailed methodology section of this report.
Note that this study did not calculate a comparable metric for smoking, so comparisons cannot be made.
| QB5. Heaviness of Vaping Nicotine Index (HVNI) | Total (n=4,666) |
Youth (15-19) (n=830) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,483) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,353) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low dependence (score 0-2) | 52% | 47% | 45% | 56% |
| Moderate dependence (score 3-4) | 26% | 18% | 27% | 28% |
| High dependence (score 5-6) | 22% | 34% | 28% | 16% |
| Base: Those who vape with nicotine | ||||
Some sub-groups are more likely to be low nicotine dependence vapers:
Most vapers who vape liquids without nicotine (66%) do so infrequently (1 to 10 times per day); just one in ten (9%) do so on a very frequen basis, i.e., 31 times per day or more. The frequency of vaping without nicotine is similar across age groups.
| QB5B. On days you use them, please estimate how many separate times per day you usually vape without nicotine? | Total (n=3,358) |
Youth (15-19) (n=500) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,034) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,824) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net: 1-10 | 66% | 67% | 63% | 67% |
| 5 or less times per day | 48% | 53% | 46% | 47% |
| 6 – 10 times per day | 18% | 14% | 17% | 20% |
| Net: 11-20 | 17% | 15% | 17% | 18% |
| 11 – 15 times per day | 10% | 10% | 11% | 10% |
| 16 – 20 times per day | 7% | 5% | 7% | 7% |
| Net: 21-30 | 7% | 6% | 9% | 7% |
| 21 – 25 times per day | 5% | 4% | 6% | 4% |
| 26 – 30 times per day | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Net: 31+ | 9% | 12% | 12% | 8% |
| 31 or more times per day | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| I vape continuously throughout the day | 8% | 10% | 10% | 7% |
| Base: Those who vape without nicotine (n=3,358) | ||||
The following sub-groups are more likely to be infrequent vapers without nicotine (1 to 10 times per day):
Vaping when unsure of the nicotine content is very similar to vaping without nicotine, with most doing so infrequently, i.e., 10 times or fewer each day (61%). Youth vapers are most likely to say they vape 1 to 10 times per day without knowing if the liquid contains nicotine (68%).
| QB5C. On days you use them, please estimate how many separate times per day you usually vape when you're not sure if it contains nicotine? | Total (n=3,183) |
Youth (15-19) (n=486) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,002) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,695) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net: 1-10 | 61% | 68% | 60% | 60% |
| 5 or less times per day | 46% | 56% | 45% | 44% |
| 6 – 10 times per day | 15% | 12% | 15% | 16% |
| Net: 11-20 | 18% | 14% | 17% | 19% |
| 11 – 15 times per day | 10% | 7% | 9% | 11% |
| 16 – 20 times per day | 7% | 7% | 8% | 8% |
| Net: 21-30 | 8% | 5% | 9% | 9% |
| 21 – 25 times per day | 5% | 2% | 6% | 5% |
| 26 – 30 times per day | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Net: 31+ | 13% | 14% | 15% | 12% |
| 31 or more times per day | 2% | 2% | 3% | 2% |
| I vape continuously throughout the day | 11% | 11% | 12% | 10% |
| Base: Those who vape and unsure about nicotine (n=3,183) | ||||
Women (65%) are more likely than men (60%) to say they are infrequent vapers when unsure about nicotine content (1 to 10 times per day).
Residents of Ontario (56%) are less likely than all other regions (ranging from 62% to 66%) to say they are infrequent vapers when unsure about nicotine content (1 to 10 times per day).
Most regular vapers say they have been vaping at their current rate for less than a year (21%) or between 1 and 2 years (39%). Young vapers are most likely to be new vapers of less than a year (25%) while longer term vaping of five years or more is most common among adults (13%).
| QB6. How long have you been vaping at least once a week? | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than one year | 21% | 25% | 20% | 20% |
| 1 year to < 2 years | 39% | 43% | 47% | 35% |
| 2 years to < 5 years | 30% | 28% | 27% | 31% |
| 5 years or more | 10% | 4% | 6% | 13% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
The following sub-groups are most likely to be new regular vapers (i.e., less than one year):
Fruit is the most-preferred vaping flavour for those vaping with nicotine (35%), without nicotine (28%), or when they are unsure of nicotine content (24%). Tobacco flavour is the second most preferred flavour for vaping with nicotine (15%), but ranks behind other flavours like mint and candy for vaping without nicotine or when unsure of nicotine content.
| QB7. What is your preferred flavour to vape…? | With nicotine (n=4,666) | Without nicotine (n=3,358) | Unsure of nicotine (n=3,183) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 35% | 28% | 24% |
| Tobacco flavour | 15% | 9% | 9% |
| Mint | 12% | 13% | 11% |
| Candy | 11% | 13% | 12% |
| Menthol | 10% | 9% | 10% |
| Dessert | 4% | 6% | 7% |
| Coffee/tea | 4% | 7% | 5% |
| Flavourless | 3% | 5% | 5% |
| Alcohol flavour | 2% | 4% | 4% |
| Other | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| Not sure | 2% | 6% | 11% |
| Base: All respondents | |||
For vaping with nicotine, fruit flavour is more popular among:
Vapers report a mean starting age for vaping of 29 years. Starting age is sharply correlated with current age, reflecting the relative recency of vaping products in the Canadian marketplace (i.e., older vapers did not have an opportunity to start vaping at a very young age).
| QB8. How old were you when you vaped for the first time? | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 9% | 31% | 8% | 3% |
| Youth (15-19) | 31% | 69% | 63% | 10% |
| Young adult (20-24) | 13% | - | 29% | 12% |
| Adult (25+) | 47% | - | - | 76% |
| Mean | 29.35 | 15.33 | 17.91 | 36.90 |
| Median | 23 | 15 | 18 | 35 |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Women report a lower mean starting age for vaping (27 years) compared to men (31 years).
Mean starting age also varies by smoking status. Those who have never smoked on a regular basis report a mean age of 20 years, which is lower compared to those who currently smoke (30 years) and former smokers (39 years).
Rating their satisfaction with life on a 0 to 10 scale, vapers overall report a mean satisfaction of 6.8 out of 10, with almost three-in-ten (28%) giving a rating between 4 and 6 out of 10. Youth are somewhat less satisfied compared to older groups, with a mean rating of 6.2 compared to 6.5 for young adults and 7.1 for adults.
| QA3 Using a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means "Very dissatisfied" and 10 means "Very satisfied," how do you feel about your life as a whole right now? | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satisfied (7-10) | 63% | 49% | 54% | 69% |
| Neutral (4-6) | 28% | 40% | 35% | 23% |
| Dissatisfied (0-4) | 9% | 12% | 11% | 8% |
| Mean | 6.79 | 6.21 | 6.45 | 7.06 |
| Median | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Sub-groups reporting lower levels of satisfaction with life include:
Youth and young adults are more likely than adults to say that most or all of their friends vape.
Vapers were asked to indicate how many, if any, of four groups of people in their life also vape, and, if applicable, their spouse or partner is a vaper. Youth and young adults are more likely than adults to report that most or all of their friends vape, and the same holds true for classmates or co-workers. These age cohorts are also more like to have spouses or partners who also vape. Vaping within families, either parents or other family members, is similar across age groups.
| QC1 How many of the following people in your life vape? | Most or all | Some | None | Not applicable | Not sure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friends | 26% | 61% | 9% | 1% | 3% |
| Classmates/co-workers | 19% | 48% | 16% | 10% | 8% |
| Family members | 9% | 45% | 38% | 4% | 4% |
| Parents/guardians | 7% | 15% | 63% | 10% | 4% |
| QC1B Do the following people in your life vape? | Yes | No | Not applicable | Not sure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse/partner | 32% | 46% | 21% | 1% |
| With "Not applicable" and "Not sure removed" | 41% | 59% | - | |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
| QC1 Most or all of the following people vape | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friends | 26% | 47% | 36% | 17% |
| Classmates / co-workers | 19% | 31% | 23% | 14% |
| Family members | 9% | 7% | 10% | 9% |
| Parents/guardians | 7% | 6% | 9% | 7% |
| QC1B Spouse/partner vapes | 32% | 31% | 40% | 30% |
| With "Not applicable" and "Not sure removed" | 41% | 48% | 52% | 36% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Looking at friends, the following groups are more likely to report that most or all of these people also vape:
For colleagues or co-workers, the following groups are more likely to report that most or all of these people also vape:
For family:
Vaping among partners / spouses is more common for:
Vapers most strongly agree that vaping calms them down and that they enjoy vaping with others; few vapers agree that vaping helps them control weight.
Vapers were asked to consider six statements about vaping and rate their agreement with each one on a scale of 1 to 10. Almost half of vapers express strong agreement (i.e., 8 to 10) that vaping calms them down (48%) and that they enjoy vaping with other people who vape (45%), and 37% say they enjoy vaping with coffee or tea. One in four vapers express strong agreement that vaping is an important part of their life (28%), and that the harms of vaping are exaggerated (25%). One in five say vaping helps them control weight (19%).
| QC3 The following statements are things that some people might say or think about vaping. For each one, indicate how much you agree with the statement, using a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 means you don't agree at all, and 10 means you strongly agree. | Agree (8-10) |
Neutral (4-7) |
Disagree (1-3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaping calms me down when I am stressed or upset. | 48% | 43% | 9% |
| I enjoy vaping when I'm with other people who vape. | 45% | 44% | 11% |
| I enjoy vaping when having coffee or tea. | 37% | 40% | 23% |
| Vaping is an important part of my life. | 28% | 51% | 22% |
| The medical evidence that vaping is harmful is exaggerated. | 25% | 55% | 21% |
| Vaping helps me control my weight. | 19% | 44% | 37% |
| Base: All respondents | |||
Agreement with statements about vaping varies by age. Youth are more likely to agree that vaping calms them down (54%) and that they enjoy vaping with other vapers (55%), while agreement with the other four statements is significantly higher among adults.
| QC3 Agree (score 8-10) with statements about the experience of vaping | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaping calms me down when I am stressed or upset. | 48% | 54% | 47% | 47% |
| I enjoy vaping when I'm with other people who vape. | 45% | 55% | 46% | 42% |
| I enjoy vaping when having coffee or tea. | 37% | 23% | 28% | 44% |
| Vaping is an important part of my life. | 28% | 21% | 21% | 32% |
| The medical evidence that vaping is harmful is exaggerated. | 25% | 17% | 18% | 29% |
| Vaping helps me control my weight. | 19% | 14% | 15% | 22% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Certain sub-groups express higher or lower levels of strong agreement (i.e., 8 to 10) with the statements about vaping:
About half of vapers say quitting smoking is a main reason for vaping. Quitting smoking, reducing cigarettes, and other smoking-related reasons are the most common reasons for vaping overall, but youth are the most likely to vape for other reasons.
Quitting smoking is the most common reason for vaping, with nearly half of vapers (47%) rating this as a top three reason (and most of those rating it as their top overall reason). Reducing cigarettes (32%), avoiding a return to smoking (30%), and because it is less harmful than smoking (25%) round out the top four reasons vapers give. The most common reason not related to smoking is that it helps to relax or cope (24%).
QC2 Consider the following reasons why people might vape and rank your top three main reasons for vaping. |
Combined 1st to 3rd | 1st main reason | 2nd main reason | 3rd main reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To quit smoking | 47% | 37% | 7% | 3% |
| To reduce the number of cigarettes I smoke | 32% | 14% | 16% | 3% |
| Avoid returning to smoking | 30% | 6% | 13% | 11% |
| It's less harmful to my health than smoking | 25% | 4% | 9% | 11% |
| Helps me to relax/cope | 24% | 8% | 8% | 8% |
| I like the flavours and/or smell | 21% | 5% | 7% | 8% |
| Can vape discreetly/ without it being noticed | 17% | 4% | 7% | 6% |
| It's cheaper than smoking | 15% | 2% | 4% | 8% |
| I vape where smoking is restricted/not allowed | 13% | 3% | 5% | 5% |
| I vape in certain social settings where it is more socially acceptable than smoking | 12% | 3% | 4% | 5% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Reasons for vaping vary distinctly by age, with smoking-related reasons much more common among adults, in comparison with youth and young adults. The younger cohorts are much more likely than adults to cite vaping helps them to relax, or that they enjoy the flavours and smell.
| QC2 Consider the following reasons why people might vape and rank your top three main reasons for vaping. | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To quit smoking | 47% | 27% | 41% | 54% |
| To reduce the number of cigarettes I smoke | 32% | 14% | 22% | 41% |
| Avoid returning to smoking | 30% | 15% | 24% | 36% |
| It's less harmful to my health than smoking | 25% | 21% | 21% | 27% |
| Helps me to relax/cope | 24% | 41% | 32% | 17% |
| I like the flavours and/or smell | 21% | 30% | 26% | 16% |
| Can vape discreetly/ without it being noticed | 17% | 15% | 18% | 17% |
| It's cheaper than smoking | 15% | 13% | 12% | 16% |
| I vape where smoking is restricted/not allowed | 13% | 6% | 12% | 16% |
| I vape in certain social settings where it is more socially acceptable than smoking | 12% | 11% | 13% | 12% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
There are some other noteworthy differences between sub-groups:
Most vapers say they have smoked a whole cigarette at some point; while majorities in all age groups have smoked, there is a noticeable age gradient, with smoking far more common among adults (92%) compared to young adults (75%) and youth (61%).
| QD1 Have you ever smoked a whole cigarette? | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 83% | 61% | 75% | 92% |
| No | 16% | 38% | 23% | 7% |
| Don't know / prefer not to say | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Men are more likely to say they have smoked (86%) compared to women (78%).
Of those vapers who have smoked, most (69%) have smoked in the past 30 days and are considered current smokers. Three in ten (30%) are daily smokers, and another four in ten (39%) are occasional smokers in this time period, meaning they have smoked in the last 30 days but not daily. This includes some vapers who have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their life (17%) indicating that they smoke very rarely, or took up smoking for the first time very recently.
Ultimately, about six in ten vapers are current smokers (58%) who smoke at least once a month. These smokers therefore qualify as dual users for the purposes of the study. Another one in five are former smokers (18%). Youth are less likely than young adults or adults to be dual users or former smokers.
| QD2 In the past 30 days, how often did you smoke cigarettes? | Total (n=3,882) |
Youth (15-19) (n=521) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,150) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,211) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Every day | 30% | 11% | 17% | 38% |
| Net: Occasional smokers | 39% | 52% | 51% | 34% |
| Less than daily, but at least once a week | 20% | 19% | 22% | 20% |
| Less than once a week, but at least once in the past month | 19% | 33% | 29% | 14% |
| Not at all | 30% | 36% | 32% | 28% |
| Don't know / prefer not to say | <1% | 1% | <1% | <1% |
| Base: Those who have smoked a whole cigarette (n=3,882) | ||||
| Smoking status | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current smoker | 58% | 38% | 51% | 66% |
| Dual user | 58% | 38% | 51% | 66% |
| Former smoker | 18% | 6% | 12% | 23% |
| None of these classifications apply | 24% | 56% | 37% | 11% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Among dual users, close to half (47%) self-identify as both a smoker and a vaper, and one in three describe themselves primarily as a vaper (32%). Compared to adults (26%), youth (55%) and young adults (44%) are much more likely to identify as vapers.
| QD4 Which of the following best describes you? | Total (n=2,755) |
Youth (15-19) (n=330) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=788) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,637) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I am a vaper | 32% | 55% | 44% | 26% |
| I am a smoker | 17% | 9% | 13% | 20% |
| I am both a smoker and a vaper | 47% | 32% | 38% | 52% |
| I am neither a smoker nor a vaper | 2% | 3% | 4% | 1% |
| Notsure | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Base: Dual users | ||||
There are some sub-group differences in self-identification:
The top reasons dual users give for smoking (in addition to vaping) include habit (30%), trying to quit smoking gradually (29%), cravings (28%), stress and anxiety (28%), and simply enjoying smoking (27%). There is some distinction by age, with older smokers more likely to mention habit (32%), enjoying smoking (30%), and addiction (27%), while the top reason for youth is social (35%). Vapers are less often driven to smoke by a stated preference for smoking because of the feeling (17%) or taste (15%).
| QD5 Which of the following best describes the main reason you smoke in addition to vaping? | Total (n=2,755) |
Youth (15-19) (n=330) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=788) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,637) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habit | 30% | 25% | 24% | 32% |
| Trying to quit smoking gradually | 29% | 21% | 23% | 31% |
| Craving nicotine/tobacco | 28% | 23% | 26% | 29% |
| Smoke when I am stressed/anxious | 28% | 29% | 30% | 28% |
| Still enjoy smoking | 27% | 19% | 20% | 30% |
| Addiction/can't give it up/hard to quit | 25% | 17% | 24% | 27% |
| Smoke with other smokers/social thing | 23% | 35% | 23% | 22% |
| Like the feeling after smoking/vaping does not give the same feeling | 17% | 20% | 17% | 17% |
| Like the taste of cigarettes better | 15% | 10% | 8% | 17% |
| Use with cannabis/alcohol | <1% | 1% | <1% | <1% |
| When I run out of vape products | <1% | 2% | <1% | <1% |
| Other | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% |
| Not sure | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% |
| Base: Dual users (2,755) | ||||
Other sub-group differences include:
Dual users smoke an average of nearly eight cigarettes a day overall (8.0), but this varies noticeably by age; adults aged 25+ smoke nearly twice as many a day (9.2 per day) as youth (4.7 per day).
| QD6 On average, how many cigarettes do you smoke per day? / On the days that you smoke, about how many cigarettes do you smoke? | Total (n=2,755) |
Youth (15-19) (n=330) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=788) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,637) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NET: 1-10 | 76% | 91% | 89% | 70% |
| 1 | 15% | 30% | 28% | 9% |
| 2-5 | 41% | 51% | 49% | 37% |
| 6-10 | 21% | 9% | 13% | 24% |
| 11-20 | 17% | 6% | 7% | 21% |
| 21-30 | 5% | 2% | 2% | 7% |
| 31+ | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
| Mean | 7.97 | 4.73 | 4.94 | 9.24 |
| Median | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Base: Dual users (n=2,755) | ||||
Sub-groups with higher smoking frequency include:
On average, dual users say they vape about eight times a day (7.5) in circumstances where they cannot smoke a cigarette; youth are most likely to do so (10.2 times per day), perhaps because their opportunities for smoking are more limited than adult dual users (6.9) and young adults (8.5).
| QD7 In a typical day, how many times do you vape because you cannot smoke a cigarette (e.g, in places where smoking is not permitted or accepted)? | Total (n=2,755) |
Youth (15-19) (n=330) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=788) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,637) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | 5% | 7% | 8% | 4% |
| 1 | 7% | 7% | 7% | 8% |
| Net: Twice a day or more | 69% | 62% | 67% | 71% |
| 2 | 12% | 8% | 12% | 13% |
| 3-5 | 28% | 22% | 24% | 30% |
| 6-19 | 19% | 19% | 17% | 20% |
| 20+ | 9% | 13% | 13% | 7% |
| Not sure | 18% | 24% | 19% | 17% |
| Mean (including 0) | 7.54 | 10.19 | 8.52 | 6.91 |
| Base: Dual users | ||||
Other sub-groups who vape more often in lieu of cigarettes include:
About one in five dual users (21%) say they have never tried to quit smoking; two thirds (68%) have tried to quit at least twice. Those who have tried to quit report an average of nearly nine quit attempts (8.7). Adults (72%) are far more likely to report two or more quit attempts compared to younger cohorts. While the age groups show directionally different mean quit attempts, these differences are not statistically significant; there is a wide range in the number of quit attempts in all age groups.
| QD8 How many times have you tried to quit smoking? | Total (n=2,755) |
Youth (15-19) (n=330) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=788) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,637) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Never | 21% | 35% | 22% | 19% |
| Once | 11% | 16% | 16% | 9% |
| Net: Two times or more | 68% | 49% | 62% | 72% |
| 2 | 18% | 14% | 21% | 18% |
| 3-5 | 32% | 24% | 28% | 35% |
| 6-19 | 12% | 8% | 10% | 14% |
| 20+ | 5% | 4% | 3% | 6% |
| Mean | 8.67 | 13.11 | 6.23 | 8.67 |
| Base: Dual users | ||||
There were no statistically significant differences in quit attempts between regions or genders.
While most dual users have attempted to quit smoking, most report their longest period of time without smoking was only a matter of days (33%) or weeks (19%). Shorter quit attempts of days, weeks, or months are similarly common for all age groups; longer quit attempts of a year or more are far more common among adults (21%).
| QD9 What was the longest time you have gone without smoking? | Total (n=2,182) |
Youth (15-19) (n=224) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=632) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,326) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Days (less than a week) | 33% | 33% | 33% | 33% |
| Weeks (less than a month) | 19% | 23% | 23% | 17% |
| Months (less than a year) | 29% | 34% | 31% | 27% |
| 1-10 years | 19% | 9% | 13% | 21% |
| 11-20 years | 1% | 2% | <1% | 1% |
| 21-30 years | <1% | - | - | <1% |
| Base: Current smokers | ||||
Ontario residents (40%) are more likely than those in all other regions (ranging from 27% to 33%) to report a longest quit attempt of days (i.e., less than a week).
A majority of vapers who are also former smokers, regardless of age, say they quit between one and ten years ago (76%). Breaking this down further, roughly equal proportions say they quit between one and three years ago (37%) or between four and ten years ago (39%). There is a stark difference between age groups, with majorities of both youth and young adults saying one to three years (71% and 58% respective), while adults are more likely to say four to ten years (46%).
| QD10 How long ago did you quit smoking? | Total (n=713) |
Youth (15-19) (n=51*) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=172) |
Adult (25+) (n=490) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Days (less than a week) | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% |
| Weeks (less than a month) | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Months (less than a year) | 11% | 22% | 22% | 8% |
| NET: 1-10 years | 76% | 75% | 75% | 76% |
| 1-3 years | 37% | 71% | 58% | 31% |
| 4-10 years | 39% | 4% | 17% | 46% |
| 11-20 years | 7% | - | - | 9% |
| 21-30 years | 4% | - | - | 5% |
| 31+ years | 1% | - | - | 1% |
| Base: Former smokers *Note: Small subgroup size (under n=100) |
||||
Former smokers in some sub-groups differ in their duration since quitting:
Using a 1 to 10 scale to rate the usefulness of vaping for reducing or quitting smoking, half of current and former smokers give it a rating between 8 and 10 (52%); the average rating is 7.2 out of 10. Compared to younger age groups, adults rate it slightly higher on average (7.3).
| QD11 How useful has vaping been in helping you reduce or quit smoking? Use a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means not useful at all, and 10 means extremely useful. | Total (n=2,895) |
Youth (15-19) (n=275) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=804) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,816) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net: Useful | 52% | 45% | 49% | 53% |
| 10 – Very useful | 24% | 18% | 23% | 25% |
| 9 | 10% | 7% | 8% | 11% |
| 8 | 17% | 19% | 17% | 17% |
| Net: Neutral | 40% | 45% | 44% | 38% |
| 7 | 17% | 18% | 17% | 17% |
| 6 | 11% | 15% | 12% | 10% |
| 5 | 9% | 8% | 10% | 8% |
| 4 | 4% | 4% | 5% | 3% |
| Net: Not useful | 9% | 10% | 7% | 9% |
| 3 | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% |
| 2 | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% |
| 1 – Not useful at all | 4% | 5% | 3% | 5% |
| Mean | 7.26 | 6.93 | 7.22 | 7.30 |
| Median | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Base: Current and former smokers | ||||
There are no significant regional or gender sub-group differences in perceptions of usefulness.
Current and former smokers most often talk to friends or family to get information on how to quit or reduce smoking (48%); this holds true across age groups. Compared to other age cohorts, young adults are more likely to talk to vape shop staff (33%), and adults are more likely to discuss with a healthcare professional (26%).
| QD11B With whom did you talk about using vaping to help you reduce or quit smoking? | Total (n=2,895) |
Youth (15-19) (n=275) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=804) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,816) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friends and/or family | 48% | 53% | 46% | 48% |
| Vape shop staff | 30% | 24% | 33% | 30% |
| Healthcare professional (e.g., doctor, nurse, dentist) | 25% | 20% | 24% | 26% |
| Other | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% |
| No one | 22% | 23% | 18% | 23% |
| Base: Current and former smokers | ||||
Other differences between sub-groups include:
Among vapers who are also current or former smokers, nicotine gum (44%) is the most common among the other cessation methods used to quit or reduce smoking. Adults are more likely to report trying most methods in the list, compared to younger cohorts.
| QD12 What other methods have you used to help you quit or reduce smoking? | Total (n=2,895) |
Youth (15-19) (n=275) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=804) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,816) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicotine gum | 44% | 38% | 37% | 46% |
| Cold turkey | 33% | 33% | 29% | 34% |
| Nicotine patch | 32% | 22% | 21% | 36% |
| Reducing the number of cigarettes | 27% | 25% | 22% | 28% |
| Nicotine inhaler | 16% | 11% | 14% | 17% |
| Prescription medication like Zyban, Wellbutrin or Champix | 14% | 4% | 5% | 17% |
| Nicotine lozenge | 13% | 7% | 9% | 15% |
| Nicotine mouth spray | 10% | 10% | 8% | 11% |
| Nicotine nasal spray | 8% | 6% | 7% | 8% |
| Other | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| None of these | 10% | 15% | 12% | 10% |
| Base: Current and former smokers | ||||
Sub-group differences in smoking cessation methods include:
Among current vapers, over half (54%) have either previously tried (31%) or are currently trying (23%) to stop vaping. Even more vapers (66%) have tried (28%) or are trying (38%) to reduce their vaping.
| QE1 Are you currently trying, or have you previously tried…? | Net: have ever tried | Currently trying | Previously tried | Never tried |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To stop vaping | 54% | 23% | 31% | 46% |
| To reduce your frequency of vaping | 66% | 38% | 28% | 34% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Both attempting to quit and reducing vaping are more common in younger cohorts, compared to adults; adults are more likely to have never tried stopping or reducing vaping. This likely relates to other differences in vaping behaviour between age groups; for older vapers, vaping is more commonly a way to reduce or quit smoking, but among younger vapers it is more often a habit unto itself.
| QE1 NET: Previously tried / currently trying | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To stop vaping | 54% | 60% | 62% | 50% |
| To reduce your frequency of vaping | 66% | 72% | 77% | 61% |
| Base: Total sample | ||||
Looking at sub-groups, there are some who are more or less likely to stop vaping or reduce their frequency of vaping:
Those who have tried to quit vaping report an average of four quit attempts (4.1); differences between age groups are not statistically significant.
| QE2 How many times have you tried to quit vaping? | Total (n=2,785) |
Youth (15-19) (n=530) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=967) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,288) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-10 | 97% | 98% | 95% | 97% |
| 11-20 | 2% | 1% | 3% | 1% |
| 21-30 | <1% | <1% | 1% | <1% |
| 31+ | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Mean | 4.08 | 3.29 | 4.12 | 4.33 |
| Base: Have tried to quit vaping Note: there is a high degree of variability in all subgroups, but no statistically significant differences between regions or genders. |
||||
Of those who have attempted to quit, two in three (65%) have managed to stop vaping for at least a week. Youth (72%) and young adults (70%) are more likely to stop for more than a week, compared to adults (61%).
| QE3 Since you began vaping regularly (i.e., at least once a week), have you ever stopped vaping for more than a week? | Total (n=2,785) |
Youth (15-19) (n=530) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=967) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,288) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 65% | 72% | 70% | 61% |
| No | 35% | 28% | 30% | 39% |
| Base: Have tried to quit vaping | ||||
Ontario residents are more likely to stop for at least a week (67%), compared to Atlantic (58%).
Among all vapers, about half say the longest time they have gone without vaping is less than a week (52%); adults in particular are most likely to say this is the longest they have gone without vaping (57%). Very few vapers of any age report longer periods of time without vaping; this is in part a reflection of the relative recency of vaping products in Canada.
| QE4 What was the longest time you have gone without vaping? | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Days (less than a week) | 52% | 40% | 43% | 57% |
| Weeks (less than a month) | 24% | 28% | 25% | 23% |
| Months (less than a year) | 17% | 26% | 23% | 13% |
| 1-10 years | 6% | 5% | 9% | 6% |
| 11-20 years | 1% | 2% | 1% | <1% |
| 21-30 years | <1% | - | <1% | <1% |
| 31+ years | <1% | - | - | 1% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Ontario residents are more likely to say their longest time without vaping was less than a week (55%) compared to British Columbia (47%) and Prairies (49%).
Residents of the Prairies are more likely to say their longest time without vaping was more than a week, but less than a month (27%) compared to Ontario (22%).
Just over one in four vapers (28%) rate quitting as an important goal in their life (i.e., 8 to 10 on a 10 point scale); among age cohorts, quitting is most important to adults (30%) while more youth rank it as not important (28%) and more young adults are neutral (53%). The average importance rating out of 10 is 5.7; half of vapers (49%) give a rating between 4 and 7.
| QE5 How important is stopping vaping to you? Use a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means stopping smoking is not important at all, and 10 means it is the most important goal of your life? | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net: Important | 28% | 24% | 25% | 30% |
| 10 – Most important goal of my life | 7% | 7% | 8% | 6% |
| 9 | 6% | 4% | 4% | 7% |
| 8 | 15% | 14% | 13% | 16% |
| Net: Neutral | 49% | 48% | 53% | 49% |
| 7 | 16% | 13% | 17% | 16% |
| 6 | 13% | 10% | 14% | 13% |
| 5 | 14% | 17% | 15% | 13% |
| 4 | 7% | 8% | 8% | 7% |
| Net: Not important | 23% | 28% | 22% | 22% |
| 3 | 7% | 10% | 7% | 6% |
| 2 | 5% | 6% | 4% | 4% |
| 1 – Not important at all | 11% | 12% | 10% | 11% |
| Mean | 5.67 | 5.34 | 5.66 | 5.77 |
| Median | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Other sub-groups more likely to rate quitting vaping as an important goal:
Less than half of vapers are confident that they will one day quit vaping for good.
Though vapers do not rate quitting as a particularly important goal, more of them are confident that they will eventually quit vaping for good, with 42% rating their confidence from 8 to 10 on a 10 point scale; the average rating is 6.7 out of 10. Across age groups, confidence in quitting is roughly the same.
| QE6 How confident are you that you will quit vaping for good? / How confident are you that you will eventually quit vaping for good? | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net: Confident | 42% | 45% | 43% | 41% |
| 10 – Extremely confident | 17% | 22% | 21% | 15% |
| 9 | 8% | 6% | 7% | 9% |
| 8 | 17% | 16% | 15% | 18% |
| Net: Neutral | 46% | 43% | 46% | 47% |
| 7 | 16% | 13% | 14% | 17% |
| 6 | 11% | 10% | 11% | 12% |
| 5 | 13% | 15% | 13% | 13% |
| 4 | 5% | 6% | 8% | 5% |
| Net: Not confident | 12% | 12% | 11% | 12% |
| 3 | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% |
| 2 | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| 1 – Not at all confident | 5% | 6% | 4% | 5% |
| Mean | 6.69 | 6.78 | 6.75 | 6.65 |
| Median | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Men are more likely to say they are confident they will eventually quit (43%) compared to women (40%).
Vapers are most likely to see health related reasons as motivations for quitting vaping.
Vapers considered six statements about their motivations for quitting vaping, and rated each on a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 means "not true at all" and 10 means "very true."
The statement rated as most true for vapers was the belief that quitting is the best thing for their health; more than half (54%) rated this as true (i.e., 8 to 10). Close behind, wanting to take responsibility for their health was rated as true by 52%. Other statements are given an 8 to 10 rating by less than half of vapers. Youth were more likely to indicate that they would quit vaping to take responsibility for their own health (59%) while adults were more likely to not really think about stopping vaping (31%).
| QE7 Different people have their own reasons for trying to stop vaping. Even if you're not planning to stop vaping right now, it may be something you think about or hear about from time to time. Consider the following statements about why people might try to stop vaping, and indicate how true or not true each one is for you, on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means "not true at all" and 10 means "very true."? | NET True (8-10) |
NET Neutral (4-7) |
NET Not true (1-3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Because I personally believe it is the best thing for my health. | 54% | 37% | 9% |
| Because I feel that I want to take responsibility for my own health. | 52% | 40% | 8% |
| Because I have carefully thought about it and believe it is very important for many aspects of my life. | 44% | 45% | 11% |
| I really don't think about stopping vaping. | 28% | 41% | 31% |
| Because I would feel guilty or ashamed of myself if I vaped. | 22% | 41% | 37% |
| Because I feel pressure from others to not vape. | 22% | 41% | 38% |
| Base: All respondents | |||
| QE7 Different people have their own reasons for trying to stop vaping. Even if you're not planning to stop vaping right now, it may be something you think about or hear about from time to time. Consider the following statements about why people might try to stop vaping, and indicate how true or not true each one is for you, on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means "not true at all" and 10 means "very true."? | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Because I personally believe it is the best thing for my health. | 54% | 56% | 54% | 53% |
| Because I feel that I want to take responsibility for my own health. | 52% | 59% | 52% | 50% |
| Because I have carefully thought about it and believe it is very important for many aspects of my life. | 44% | 42% | 43% | 45% |
| I really don't think about stopping vaping. | 28% | 23% | 21% | 31% |
| Because I would feel guilty or ashamed of myself if I vaped. | 22% | 20% | 22% | 23% |
| Because I feel pressure from others to not vape. | 22% | 17% | 20% | 23% |
| None of the above | 22% | 18% | 22% | 23% |
| Base: Have tried to quit or reduce vaping | ||||
Perceptions of the statements about quitting vaping differs among some sub-groups:
When it comes to vaping devices, a majority of vapers buy them in-person at a vape shop (70%), and some buy them in-person at other types of shops, like gas stations or convenience stores (22%). One in four buy their devices online (25%).
Young adults are most likely to buy devices from vape shops (76%) or other retailers (25%). Youth are least likely to buy devices at vape shops (62%) or online (20%); youth are far more likely than other age cohorts to avert age restrictions and have someone else buy devices for them (32%) or borrow them from someone (25%).
| QF1A From where do you usually get your vaping devices and liquids? DEVICES |
Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I buy it myself at a vape shop (in person, not online) | 70% | 62% | 76% | 70% |
| I buy it myself online | 25% | 20% | 25% | 27% |
| I buy it myself at a gas station, pharmacy or convenience/grocery store | 22% | 21% | 25% | 21% |
| I gave a friend/family member some money to buy it for me | 17% | 32% | 17% | 12% |
| A friend/family member gives/lends it to me | 14% | 25% | 19% | 10% |
| Other | <1% | <1% | <1% | <1% |
| Not sure | 3% | 2% | 4% | 2% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Buying devices from vape shops is generally similar across subgroups, it is more common among Prairie residents (74%) than those in Ontario (68%) and Quebec (68%).
Purchasing online is more common among:
Buying at other retailers like gas stations and convenience stores is more common among:
Like devices, vape shops are the top source for vaping liquids (55%), followed by other types of retailers (26%) and online (25%).
As with devices, young adults are most likely to buy their liquids from vape shops (58%) or other retailers (31%). Youth are less likely to buy liquids at vape shops (52%), other retailers (23%), or online (18%) and more likely to have someone else buy liquids for them (31%) or receive them from someone else like a friend or family member (22%).
| QF1B From where do you usually get your vaping devices and liquids? LIQUIDS |
Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I buy it myself at a vape shop (in person, not online) | 55% | 52% | 58% | 55% |
| I buy it myself at a gas station, pharmacy or convenience/grocery store | 26% | 23% | 31% | 25% |
| I buy it myself online | 25% | 18% | 25% | 27% |
| I gave a friend/family member some money to buy it for me | 16% | 31% | 18% | 12% |
| A friend/family member gives/lends it to me | 14% | 22% | 20% | 10% |
| Other | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Not sure | 5% | 6% | 6% | 4% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Buying liquids at vape shops varies among some sub-groups:
Other retailers are used more often by:
Groups more likely to purchase online include:
About four in ten vapers (43%) say that in the past six months, they've encountered a situation where the vape flavour or device they wanted was not available. This occurrence is more common among youth (55%) and young adults (57%).
| QF2 In the last 6 months, was there ever a time you could not get a vape flavour or device you wanted? | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 43% | 55% | 57% | 35% |
| No | 57% | 45% | 43% | 65% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Groups more likely to report not being able to get a vape flavour or device they wanted include:
Among vapers who could not get the products they wanted in the past six months, the most common reason was a flavour becoming unavailable (51%), followed by temporary store closures (29%), and expense (22%). Youth are more impacted by flavour availability (57%) and less affected by temporary store closures (23%) compared to older age cohorts.
| QF3 What was the reason you couldn't get the vape flavour or device you wanted? | Total (n=2,392) |
Youth (15-19) (n=491) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=905) |
Adult (25+) (n=996) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My favourite flavour was no longer available | 51% | 57% | 51% | 49% |
| Store closed temporarily (e.g., COVID-19-related lockdown) | 29% | 23% | 30% | 32% |
| Too expensive/couldn't afford it | 22% | 20% | 22% | 22% |
| My favourite device was no longer available | 15% | 12% | 12% | 18% |
| Store closed permanently | 14% | 7% | 16% | 17% |
| Out of stock (non-specific) | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% |
| Government control/ban | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| My age (I was too young) | 1% | 1% | - | 1% |
| Other | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
| Not sure | 2% | 4% | 2% | 2% |
| Base: Those who could not get a flavour or device they wanted in past 6 months (n=2,392) | ||||
Flavour availability had varying impacts on some other sub-groups:
Temporary store closures are mentioned more often by some sub-groups including:
It is worth noting that pandemic-related store closures and limitations on products available for purchase were more stringent in Quebec and Ontario due to COVID-related restrictions.
Thinking about packaging elements on vaping products, vapers say that company branding (i.e., name and logo) is what most catches their attention (38%), followed by colour (31%) and the form or shape of packaging (27%). Adults are less likely to mention company branding (36%), colours (24%), or packaging form (26%) compared to younger cohorts.
| QF4 Excluding flavours, what elements on the packaging for vaping products catch your attention? | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The brand/company name and/or brand/company logo | 38% | 42% | 40% | 36% |
| Colours | 31% | 44% | 39% | 24% |
| The form and shape of the packaging/container | 27% | 28% | 30% | 26% |
| Brand or company slogan or motto | 21% | 18% | 19% | 22% |
| Images and graphic arrangement | 15% | 19% | 15% | 14% |
| Flavour(s) | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
| Amount of nicotine | <1% | <1% | <1% | <1% |
| Price | <1% | <1% | <1% | <1% |
| Other | <1% | <1% | 1% | <1% |
| None of the above | 22% | 17% | 13% | 26% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Some sub-groups are more or less likely to say that company brand name or logo catches their attention:
Groups more likely to mention that they notice the colours include:
Pen-style devices are most popular among vapers, used by nearly half (46%). About three in ten use tank or mod devices (29%) or pod devices (28%). While pen style devices are the most popular choice among all age groups, tank or mod style devices are more popular among adults (32%) and pod devices are notably less popular among this oldest cohort (22%).
| QF4B What type of vaping device do you currently use? | Total n=4,815 |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) n=1,524 |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pen | 46% | 43% | 45% | 47% |
| Tank or mod | 29% | 25% | 26% | 32% |
| Pod | 28% | 43% | 36% | 22% |
| Cig-a-like | 17% | 11% | 16% | 18% |
| Disposable | 1% | 3% | 1% | 0% |
| Stlth | <1% | 1% | <1% | <1% |
| Other | 1% | <1% | 1% | 1% |
| None | 0% | - | <1% | <1% |
| DK/NA | 0% | - | <1% | <1% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Pen style devices differ in popularity among some sub-groups:
Differences in preference for tank or mod devices include:
Pod style devices are:
Overall device quality (73%) and convenience of use (73%) are the most important considerations for vapers when they choose a vaping device, with about three in four vapers saying these elements are very or somewhat important to their decision. About two in three vapers say that it is important for a device to be refillable (68%) and that the size of the device is important to them (68%). Young adult vapers tend to give somewhat lower importance ratings to the different device elements.
| QF5A Thinking about the device you currently use most, how important were the following considerations when you chose that device? | NET: Important | Very important |
Somewhat important | Not very important | Not at all important |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Device quality | 73% | 42% | 31% | 16% | 10% |
| Convenience of use and ease of maintenance | 73% | 38% | 35% | 17% | 11% |
| Refillable | 68% | 38% | 30% | 19% | 13% |
| Size of device | 68% | 27% | 41% | 21% | 11% |
| Attractive appearance | 58% | 19% | 39% | 26% | 15% |
| Other device features or functions | 57% | 18% | 39% | 27% | 16% |
| Easy to hide the device | 57% | 24% | 33% | 24% | 18% |
| Advice of friends | 53% | 16% | 37% | 27% | 20% |
| Advice of salesperson | 51% | 14% | 37% | 29% | 20% |
| Disposable | 49% | 19% | 30% | 26% | 24% |
| Visibility and size of cloud for things like cloud chasing and vaping tricks | 49% | 18% | 31% | 25% | 26% |
| Base: All respondents | |||||
| QF5 Thinking about the device you currently use most, how important were the following considerations when you chose that device? NET important | Total n=4,815 |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) n=1,524 |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Device quality | 73% | 74% | 70% | 74% |
| Convenience of use and ease of maintenance | 73% | 73% | 70% | 74% |
| Refillable | 68% | 66% | 63% | 71% |
| Size of device | 68% | 66% | 65% | 69% |
| Attractive appearance | 59% | 60% | 58% | 59% |
| Other device features or functions | 57% | 55% | 52% | 60% |
| Easy to hide the device | 57% | 60% | 57% | 57% |
| Advice of friends | 53% | 57% | 53% | 52% |
| Advice of salesperson | 51% | 48% | 49% | 53% |
| Disposable | 49% | 48% | 49% | 50% |
| Visibility and size of cloud for things like cloud chasing and vaping tricks | 49% | 47% | 47% | 50% |
| None of the above | 4% | 2% | 3% | 4% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Notable differences among sub-groups include:
On average, vapers spent about $90 on vaping devices in the past month; this excludes those who spent no money (17%), or who could not recall (27%). Mean spending was higher among young adults, at $108 in the past month. Note: there is a large range for mean spending in each sub-group.
| QF6A How much did you spend in the past month on… vaping devices (including each of its components) | Total n=4,815 |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) n=1,524 |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | 17% | 18% | 17% | 17% |
| Under $40 | 18% | 19% | 17% | 17% |
| $40 - $80 | 18% | 14% | 17% | 19% |
| $80 - $100 | 3% | 4% | 2% | 4% |
| $100+ | 17% | 17% | 24% | 15% |
| I don't know | 27% | 28% | 23% | 27% |
| Mean (excluding 0) | $87.72 | $92.05 | $107.70 | $79.67 |
| Median | $50.00 | $50.00 | $60.00 | $50.00 |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Men report higher spending on devices ($91) than women ($82).
The average past month spending on pods or liquids is $66 overall, with young adults again spending more than other age cohorts ($76).
| QF6B How much did you spend in the past month on… pods or e-liquids? | Total n=4,815 |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) n=1,524 |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | 5% | 7% | 6% | 5% |
| Under $40 | 25% | 25% | 21% | 27% |
| $40 - $80 | 23% | 18% | 23% | 24% |
| $80 - $100 | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% |
| $100+ | 16% | 16% | 21% | 15% |
| I don't know | 28% | 31% | 26% | 28% |
| Mean (excluding 0) | $66.02 | $70.34 | $75.53 | $61.86 |
| Median | $50.00 | $50.00 | $50.00 | $45.00 |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Asked to rate the affordability of vaping on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means very unaffordable and 10 means very affordable, most vapers fall somewhere in the neutral range with a rating between 4 and 7 (59%); the mean rating overall is 6.5 out of 10. Youth rate vaping as less affordable compared to other age cohorts, with a mean rating of 6.0 out of 10.
| QF7 How affordable are the vaping devices and liquids you buy? Use a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means very unaffordable, and 10 means very affordable? | Total n=4,815 |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) n=1,524 |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NET: Affordable (8-10) | 33% | 21% | 26% | 38% |
| NET: Neutral (4-7) | 59% | 69% | 65% | 55% |
| NET: Unaffordable (1-3) | 8% | 10% | 10% | 7% |
| Mean | 6.52 | 5.96 | 6.21 | 6.78 |
| Median | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Sub-group differences in affordability perception include:
Majorities of vapers have tried cannabis in each of the following forms: smoking (69%), edibles (58%), and vaping (56%). Only one in five say they have never tried it (18%). Cannabis use is lowest among adults for all three methods, though majorities in this group have still tried it each way.
| QG1 Have you ever tried using cannabis in any of the following ways? % saying yes |
Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smoking | 69% | 72% | 75% | 67% |
| Edibles | 58% | 64% | 66% | 53% |
| Vaping | 56% | 63% | 65% | 50% |
| None of the above | 18% | 16% | 11% | 20% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Some sub-groups are more or less likely to use cannabis in one form or another:
Of those who have used cannabis, a majority have done so in the past 30 days, through smoking (84%), vaping (76%), and edibles (73%). Adults are more likely to vape cannabis (87%) or use edibles (78%), but the frequency of smoking cannabis is consistent across age groups.
| QG2 In the past 30 days, how often did you use cannabis? | NET: Used in past 30 days | Daily | Less than daily, but at least once a week | Less than once a week, but at least once in the past month | Not at all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaping (n=2,999) | 84% | 30% | 29% | 25% | 16% |
| Smoking (n=3,428) | 76% | 30% | 23% | 23% | 24% |
| Edibles (n=3,014) | 73% | 11% | 21% | 41% | 27% |
| Base: Vapers who tried cannabis in each form | |||||
| QG2 In the past 30 days, how often did you use cannabis? | NET: Used in past 30 days | Youth (15-19) | Young adult (20-24) | Adult (25+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaping (n=2,999) | 84% | 81% | 80% | 87% |
| Smoking (n=3,428) | 76% | 75% | 76% | 76% |
| Edibles (n=3,014) | 73% | 68% | 68% | 78% |
| Base: Vapers who tried cannabis in each form | ||||
Sub-groups more likely to vape cannabis in the past 30 days include:
Smoking cannabis in the past 30 days is more common among:
Past 30 day use of edibles differs among some groups as well:
In general, most vapers say their vaping behaviour (with or without nicotine) stays the same when they are using cannabis through either vaping or smoking; youth are more likely to say they vape more with nicotine while vaping cannabis (23%) or smoking cannabis (21%).
| QG2BA Thinking of the past 30 days, while you are vaping cannabis, do you find you vape…with nicotine…? | Cannabis vapers / vape with nicotine (n=2,446) | Youth (15-19) (n=446) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=815) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,185) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less | 29% | 30% | 33% | 27% |
| The same | 57% | 47% | 52% | 63% |
| More | 14% | 23% | 14% | 10% |
| QG2BB Thinking of the past 30 days, while you are vaping cannabis, do you find you vape without nicotine…? | Cannabis vapers / vape without nicotine (n=1,980) | Youth (15-19) (n=285) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=637) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,058) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less | 25% | 33% | 31% | 21% |
| The same | 60% | 54% | 55% | 64% |
| More | 15% | 13% | 14% | 15% |
| Base: Vapers who vaped cannabis in the past month | ||||
| QG2CA Thinking of the past 30 days, while you are smoking cannabis, do you find you vape with nicotine…? | Cannabis smokers / vape with nicotine (n=2,594) | Youth (15-19) (n=452) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=871) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,271) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less | 26% | 28% | 30% | 23% |
| The same | 62% | 51% | 55% | 68% |
| More | 12% | 21% | 15% | 9% |
| QG2CB Thinking of the past 30 days, while you are smoking cannabis, do you find you vape without nicotine…? | Cannabis smokers / vape with nicotine (n=1,933) | Youth (15-19) (n=269) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=616) |
Adult (25+) (n=1,048) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less | 26% | 29% | 31% | 23% |
| The same | 60% | 58% | 54% | 63% |
| More | 14% | 13% | 14% | 14% |
| Base: Vapers who smoked cannabis in the past month | ||||
Quebec residents more often say they vape less with nicotine while vaping cannabis (34%) or smoking cannabis (32%).
Regardless of age, a vast majority of vapers (91%) have had a drink with alcohol.
| QG3 Have you ever had a drink with alcohol? | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 91% | 89% | 92% | 91% |
| No | 9% | 11% | 8% | 9% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Reported alcohol use is very high among all sub-groups, however, the following sub-groups are the most likely to say they have had a drink with alcohol:
Of those who have had alcohol, most have had at least one drink in the past 30 days (88%). Daily use is infrequent (13%), but four in ten say they have been drinking at least once a week in this time period (42%). Drinking frequency is closely associated with age, with youth and young adults most likely to say they have been drinking less than once a week (46% and 39%, respectively) or not at all (14%) and adults more likely to drink on a daily basis (16%).
| QG4 In the past 30 days, how often did you drink at least one alcoholic beverage? | Total (n=4,380) |
Youth (15-19) (n=762) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,422) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,196) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NET: 30 days | 88% | 86% | 93% | 88% |
| Daily | 13% | 6% | 12% | 16% |
| Less than daily but at least once a week | 42% | 34% | 42% | 44% |
| Less than once a week, but at least once in the past month | 33% | 46% | 39% | 28% |
| Not at all | 12% | 14% | 7% | 12% |
| Base: Have had a drink with alcohol | ||||
Daily drinking is more common among:
Most vapers who drink alcohol report that while drinking, their vaping behaviour remains the same whether it's with nicotine (57%) or without (60%). There were age-dependent impacts, though. Youth and young adults are more likely to report a change but this change depends on the nicotine levels: alcohol use is associated with increased vaping with nicotine (youth: 35%, young adults: 33%) but decreased vaping without nicotine (youth: 38%, young adults: 33%). Compared to younger cohorts, adults are more like to say their vaping with nicotine stays the same (with nicotine 64%, without nicotine 65%) while drinking.
| QG5A Thinking of the past 30 days, while you are having alcoholic beverages, do you find you vape with nicotine…? | Drinkers / vape with nicotine (n=4,380) | Youth (15-19) (n=762) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,422) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,196) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less | 21% | 20% | 23% | 21% |
| The same | 57% | 45% | 44% | 64% |
| More | 22% | 35% | 33% | 15% |
| Base: Have had a drink with alcohol in the past month (n=4,380) | ||||
| QG5B Thinking of the past 30 days, while you are having alcoholic beverages, do you find you vape with nicotine…? | Drinkers / vape with nicotine (n=4,380) | Youth (15-19) (n=762) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,422) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,196) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less | 29% | 38% | 33% | 25% |
| The same | 60% | 49% | 55% | 65% |
| More | 11% | 13% | 12% | 10% |
| Base: Have had a drink with alcohol in the past month (n=4,380) | ||||
Sub-groups who are more likely to say they vape more with nicotine while drinking include:
Quebec residents are more likely to vape less with nicotine while drinking (24%) compared to British Columbia (18%).
Asked to rate the relative harm of six common behaviours on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being most harmful), vapers overwhelmingly rate smoking cigarettes as the most harmful: two-thirds (68%) give it a rating between 8 and 10. For all other behaviours in the list, similar proportions of vapers rate each as harmful. Youth are more likely to rate smoking as harmful compared to older cohorts (72%), while adults give higher ratings to alcohol (42%), junk food (42%), and smoking cannabis (39%).
| QG6 How harmful do you feel each of the following is, if done on a regular basis? Use a scale from 1 to 10 where 1 means "Not harmful at all" and 10 means "Extremely harmful." | Harmful (8-10) |
Neutral (4-7) |
Not harmful (1-3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoking cigarettes | 68% | 28% | 3% |
| Drinking alcohol | 39% | 53% | 9% |
| Eating junk food | 37% | 54% | 9% |
| Smoking cannabis | 35% | 48% | 16% |
| Vaping with nicotine (excluding cannabis) | 34% | 55% | 11% |
| Vaping cannabis | 33% | 52% | 15% |
| QG6 % saying each is harmful (score 8-10) | Total (n=4,815) |
Youth (15-19) (n=852) |
Young adult (20-24) (n=1,524) |
Adult (25+) (n=2,439) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smoking cigarettes | 68% | 72% | 67% | 68% |
| Drinking alcohol | 39% | 33% | 35% | 42% |
| Eating junk food | 37% | 25% | 29% | 42% |
| Smoking cannabis | 35% | 31% | 28% | 39% |
| Vaping with nicotine (excluding cannabis) | 34% | 33% | 33% | 35% |
| Vaping cannabis | 33% | 34% | 28% | 34% |
| Base: All respondents | ||||
Other notable differences between sub-groups include:
The results are based on an online survey conducted with Canadians aged 15 and older who vaped at least once a week in the previous four weeks. The incidence of regular vapers among Canadians 15+ is 3.4 percent nationally (per CTNS 2020 data).
This research study consisted of a national online survey of 4,815 Canadians aged 15 or older and are current vapers. The survey was conducted from March 4 – April 8, 2022. The sample was designed to (a) be as representative as possible of the current smoker population by age, gender and province, and (b) to maximize the subsample of youth (15-19 years) and young adult (20-24 years) vapers, for adequate analysis in subsequent waves (despite expected attrition). As this online survey utilized an opt-in panel, it is a non-probability survey and no margin of sampling error should be calculated. Reported percentages are not generalizable to any group other than the sample studied, and therefore no formal statistical inferences can be drawn between the sample results and the broader target population it may be intended to reflect.
The following completions were achieved:
| Age | 2020 Population | Current vaper incidence (CTNS 2020) | Proportion of vaper population | Unweighted sample size | Proportion of total sample | Weighted sample size* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-19 | 2,102,402 | 9.0% | 17% | 852 | 18% | 843 |
| 20-24 | 2,484,313 | 8.7% | 20% | 1,524 | 32% | 957 |
| 25+ | 27,408,756 | 2.5% | 63% | 2,439 | 50% | 3,015 |
| Total | 31,995,471 | 3.4% | 100% | 4,815 | 100% | 4,815 |
To allow for the inclusion of youth under 18 years of age, the invitation was sent to panellists who were profiled as parents of children aged 15-17. They were then asked to provide consent for their child's participation before having their child complete the survey.
After the data were collected, weighting was used to ensure the sample is representative of vapers in Canada. Data for weighting came from the Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey (CTNS) 2020, as provided by Health Canada.
Respondents from Ontario, those age 20 to 24, and women are overrepresented in the unweighted sample relative to the CTNS 2020 data; this discrepancy is not unexpected due to the general overrepresentation of these groups within online survey panels.
| Demographic group | Unweighted sample size | Unweighted proportion | Weighted proportion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Region | |||
| Atlantic | 387 | 8% | 8% |
| Quebec | 1,100 | 23% | 26% |
| Ontario | 1,845 | 38% | 30% |
| MB/SK/AB | 869 | 18% | 20% |
| BC/Territories | 614 | 13% | 16% |
| Age group | |||
| 15-19 | 852 | 18% | 17% |
| 20-24 | 1,524 | 32% | 20% |
| 25+ | 2,439 | 51% | 63% |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 2,479 | 52% | 66% |
| Female | 2,261 | 47% | 34% |
| Gender diverse | 69 | 1% | <1% |
Environics worked with Health Canada to develop a questionnaire that ensured the research objectives were met and all questions were appropriately worded, and that it adhered to federal government standards for public opinion research. Upon approval from Health Canada, the questionnaire was translated into French. The final study questionnaire is included in Appendix B.
Prior to the launch of this survey, Environics provided test links to Health Canada for both language versions of the survey and changes were made based on their comments. Then Environics arranged to conduct pretests in both official languages. For the pretests Environics selected a limited number of records and conducted a "soft launch" in each language. These preliminary surveys included standard Government of Canada pretest probing questions at the end, to ascertain the survey length and language was appropriate. The pretest took place on March 4 to 7 and achieved 303 responses (269 English, 34 French). No changes were required as a result of the pretests.
The online survey was conducted from March 4 to April 8, 2022. The final average survey length was 12.44 minutes. Due to the large sample size required, the sample was sourced from three trusted panel providers: Dynata, Asking Canadians and Maru.
The surveys were conducted by Environics using a secure, fully featured web-based survey environment. Environics' data analysts programmed the questionnaires then performed thorough testing to ensure accuracy in set-up and data collection. This validation ensured that the data entry process conformed to the surveys' basic logic. The data collection system handles sampling invitations, quotas and questionnaire completion (skip patterns, branching, and valid ranges).
Environics assumed overall responsibility for all aspects of the survey fieldwork. The survey was conducted according to the following steps:
All respondents were offered the opportunity to complete the surveys in their official language of choice. All survey respondents were informed of Government of Canada's sponsorship of the research, that their participation was voluntary, and that information collected was protected under the authority of privacy legislation.
Survey respondents, who were drawn from panels of individuals who have agreed to participate in online surveys, were rewarded for taking part in the survey per the panel's incentive program. The reward was structured to reflect the length of survey and the nature of the sample.
All research work was conducted according to best practices in the industry, such as the Standards for the Conduct of Government of Canada Public Opinion Research – Online Surveys (http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/rop-por/enligne-online-eng.html) as well as applicable federal legislation (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, or PIPEDA). Environics is a founding member of the Canadian Research Insights Council (CRIC) and registered the survey with CRIC's Research Verification System, which permits the public to verify a survey call, inform themselves about the industry and/or register a complaint. For more information about CRIC: CRIC | Canadian Research Insights Council
Non-response error results from not being able to interview people who are eligible to take the survey. In this case, non-response bias is the difference in responses of those qualified participants who are invited to participate and those who complete the survey. Environics made every effort to minimize non-response error by ensuring a balanced sample of smokers were invited to the survey and by using quotas.
Measurement error is error or bias that occurs when surveys do not measure what they are intended to measure. This type of error results from flaws in the instrument, question wording, translation issues, question order, timing, question response options, etc. Environics and Health Canada designed a questionnaire that minimized this type of error.
Accessibility considerations for the online survey. There is a diverse scope of individuals who participate in research, and Environics has worked toward formatting surveys to enable a user-friendly experience for all participants. We set up our online surveys so screen readers can deliver a better experience to those with disabilities. We extensively test our online surveys using industry-standard techniques and screen readers. Environics ensures its online surveys meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Following data collection and prior to analysis, data analysts performed a data-cleaning and validation process, in accordance with the highest industry standards. Open-ended question data were coded and Environics designed banner tables in consultation with the project authority. Data tables were submitted in CSV format.
The data from this survey are statistically weighted to ensure the sample is as representative of this population as possible according to the most recently available Government of Canada information (current vaper incidence from CTNS 2020).
During this process, the Heaviness of Vaping with Nicotine Index (HVNI) was calculated according to the following formula:
The scores for each question were added, giving each respondent a total score from 0 to 6. These scores were further used to create the following categories:
The completion results for survey are presented in the following table.
| Disposition | N |
|---|---|
| Broadcasts delivered (c) | 278,761 |
| Completed (d) | 4,815 |
| Qualified respondent break-off (e) | 5,785 |
| Disqualified (f) | 33,237 |
| Did not respond (g) | 232,689 |
| Quota filled (h) | 2,235 |
| Contact rate (d+e+f+h)/c | 16.53 |
| Participation rate (d+f+h)/c | 14.45 |
Environics Research
4-March 2022
Please select your preferred language for completing the survey / Veuillez sélectionner la langue de votre choix pour remplir le sondage.
01–English / Anglais 02–Français / French
As a parent of or legal guardian to a youth living in your household, we are requesting your permission for your 15-, 16- or 17-year-old teenager to participate in an important survey being conducted for Health Canada.
The purpose of the survey is to understand Canadians' experiences with and opinions about vaping. This feedback will be used by Health Canada to develop regulations related to vaping and to design public education materials.
The survey is being conducted by Environics, an independent research firm, and will take about 15 minutes to complete.
Since privacy is important while respondents answer this survey, we request that your child be able to complete the survey in a setting where his/her answers will not be seen by others. All answers will remain anonymous and confidential.
How does the online survey work?
What about your child's personal information?
What happens after the survey?
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Environics at sarah.roberton@environics.ca
How does the online survey work?
What about your child's personal information?
What happens after the survey?
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Environics at sarah.roberton@environics.ca
If you agree to allow your child to participate in this survey, please provide the survey link to him/her.
Your child can also access the survey by copying the following URL into his/her browser:
LINK HERE
Thank you for your support of this important research.
Thank you for agreeing to take part in this short 15-minute survey being conducted by Environics, a Canadian public opinion research firm, on behalf of Health Canada.
The purpose of the survey is to understand Canadians' experiences with and opinions about vaping. This feedback will be used by Health Canada to develop regulations related to vaping and to design public education materials.
15-17-YEAR-OLDS ONLY: Your parent or legal guardian has given permission for you to participate in this very important study. Your participation is voluntary, so it is up to you to decide whether you are willing to answer, but we hope you do! You can do the survey on your computer, laptop, tablet or phone. You can stop at any time if you feel uncomfortable or choose not to answer certain questions. Your answers will not be shown to your parent(s), legal guardian(s), teachers or anyone else, so please be as honest as you can.
How does the online survey work?
What about your personal information?
What happens after the survey?
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Environics at sarah.roberton@environics.ca.
[CONTINUE TO SCREENING]
< PROGRAMMING NOTE: All questions are mandatory.>
S1. In what year were you born?
DROP DOWN LIST – SEE QUOTAS
IF UNDER 15, TERMINATE
[IF S1=PREFER NOT TO SAY (9999)] In which of the following age categories do you belong?
Select one only – SEE QUOTAS
01 - Under 15 [TERMINATE]
02 - 15 to 17
03 - 18 to 24
04 - 25 to 34
05 - 35 to 44
06 - 45 to 54
07 - 55 to 64
08 - 65 or older
99 - Prefer not to say [TERMINATE]
S2. How do you identify your gender? (This may be different from the information noted on your birth certificate or other official documents)
Select one only – SEE QUOTAS
01 - Female gender
02 - Male gender
03 - Gender diverse
99 - Prefer not to say
S3. In which province or territory do you live?
DROP DOWN LIST – SEE QUOTAS
01 - British Columbia
02 - Alberta
03 - Saskatchewan
04 - Manitoba
05 - Ontario
06 - Quebec
07 - New Brunswick
08 - Nova Scotia
09 - Prince Edward Island
10 - Newfoundland and Labrador
11 - Yukon
12 - Northwest Territories
13 - Nunavut
Vaping products are a diverse group of products containing a heating element that produces an aerosol from a liquid that users can inhale via a mouthpiece and include a range of devices such as "cig-a-likes," vape tank systems, and vape mods.
A1. Have you ever tried vaping with or without nicotine? Please exclude vaping cannabis.
01 – Yes
02 – No [TERMINATE]
A2. During the past 30 days, how often have you used a vaping product with or without nicotine? (Please exclude vaping cannabis.) Was it:
01 – Daily
02 – Less than daily, but at least once a week
03 – Less than once a week, but at least once in the past month [TERMINATE]
04 – Not at all [TERMINATE]
[NOTE: REGULAR VAPER: A2=1,2]
A3. [ASK ALL] Using a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means "Very dissatisfied" and 10 means "Very satisfied", how do you feel about your life as a whole right now?
1 Very dissatisfied
10 Very satisfied
[NEW SCREEN]
NOTE: The following questions about your vaping habits and preferences refer only to vape liquids with/without nicotine and not cannabis/marijuana/THC.
B1. Which of the following best describes how often you vaped liquids with nicotine in the past 30 days?
01 – I vaped them every day
02 – I vaped them at least once a week, but not daily
03 – I vaped them less than weekly, but at least once in the past 30 days
04 – Not at all
B2. Which of the following best describes how often you vaped liquids without nicotine in the past 30 days?
01 – I vaped them every day
02 – I vaped them at least once a week, but not daily
03 – I vaped them less than weekly, but at least once in the past 30 days
04 – Not at all
B3. Which of the following best describes how often you vaped liquids you weren't sure contained nicotine or not in the past 30 days?
[TERMINATE IF B1 = 4 AND B2 = 4 AND B3 = 4]
B4. [IF 01-03 AT QB1] How soon after you wake up do you usually have your first vape with nicotine?
01 – I vaped them every day
02 – I vaped them at least once a week, but not daily
03 – I vaped them less than weekly, but at least once in the past 30 days
04 – Not at all
B5. On days you use them, please estimate how many separate times per day you usually vape …?
[GRID, SELECT ONE ONLY FOR EACH]
a. With nicotine? [HIDE IF B1 = 4]
b. Without nicotine? [HIDE IF B2 = 4]
c. When you're not sure if it contains nicotine? [HIDE IF B3 = 4]
01 - 5 or less times per day
02 - 6–10 times per day
03 - 11–15 times per day
04 - 16–20 times per day
05 - 21–25 times per day
06 - 26-30 times per day
07 - 31 or more times per day
08 - I vape continuously throughout the day
B6. How long have you been vaping at least once a week?
01 - Less than one year
02 - 1 year to < 2 years
03 - 2 years to < 5 years
04 - 5 years or more
[NOTE: HEAVINESS OF VAPING WITH NICOTINE INDEX TO BE CALCULATED IN BACK END]
B7. What is your preferred flavour to vape…?
[GRID, SELECT ONE ONLY FOR EACH]
a. With nicotine? [HIDE IF DIDN'T VAPE WITH NICOTINE]
b. Without nicotine? [HIDE IF DIDN'T VAPE WITHOUT NICOTINE]
c. When you're not sure if it contains nicotine? [HIDE IF DIDN'T VAPE UNSURE ABOUT NICOTINE]
[RANDOMIZE LIST IN GRID]
01 - Fruit
02 – Candy
03 - Coffee/tea
04 - Dessert
05 - Mint
06 - Menthol
07 - Tobacco flavour
08 – Alcohol flavour
09 – Flavourless/no flavour in descriptor97 – Other [ANCHOR]
99 – Not sure [ANCHOR AT BOTTOM, SINGLE PUNCH]
B8. How old were you when you vaped for the first time?
ENTER AGE IN YEARS, MUST BE =< RESPONDENT AGE
C1. How many of the following people in your life vape?
| A) | None | Some | Most or all | Not applicable | Not sure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. Friends | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| b. Classmates / co-workers | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| c. Family members | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| d. Parents/guardians | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
C1b. Do the following people in your life vape?
| B) | Yes | No | Not applicable | Not sure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b. Spouse / partner | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
C2. Consider the following reasons why people might vape and rank your top three main reasons for vaping:
01 - To quit smoking
02 - To reduce the number of cigarettes I smoke
02b - Avoid returning to smoking
03 - I vape where smoking is restricted/not allowed
20 - Can vape discretely/without it being noticed
04 - I vape in certain social settings where it is more socially acceptable than smoking
05 - It's less harmful to my health than smoking
06 - It's less harmful to others/family/children than smoking
07 - It's cheaper than smoking
08 - I like the flavours and/or smell
22 - Helps me relax/cope
09 - It is fun and exciting
12 – I vape when it is offered to me
13 - It gives me a break from work/school/home
14 - It passes the time/boredom
15 - Habit/ritual
16 - For the "buzz"/as an alternate source of nicotine
17 - It's easier to buy/get than cigarettes [HIDE IF NEVER SMOKER]
19 - As a social activity with friends or family
97 - Other (Specify)
99 - Not sure
C3. The following statements are things that some people might say or think about vaping. For each one, indicate how much you agree with the statement, using a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 means you don't agree at all, and 10 means you strongly agree.
[GRID, RANDOMIZE]
a) I enjoy vaping when having coffee or tea.
b) The medical evidence that vaping is harmful is exaggerated.
c) Vaping is an important part of my life.
d) Vaping calms me down when I am stressed or upset.
e) I enjoy vaping when I'm with other people who vape.
f) Vaping helps me control my weight.
01 – Don't agree at all
10 – Strongly agree
The next few questions are about smoking cigarettes.
[KEY SMOKING STATUS QUESTION]
D1. Have you ever smoked a whole cigarette?
01 - Yes
02 - No
99 - Don't know/prefer not to say
[KEY SMOKING STATUS QUESTION]
D2. [IF D1 = 1] In the past 30 days, how often did you smoke cigarettes?
01 - Every day
02 - Less than daily, but at least once a week
03 - Less than once a week, but at least once in the past month
04 - Not at all
99 - Don't know/prefer not to say
[KEY SMOKING STATUS QUESTION]
D3. [IF D1 = 1] Have you smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your life?
01 - Yes
02 - No
99 - Don't know/prefer not to say
[CURRENT SMOKER: D2=01,02,03]
[DUAL USER: REGULAR VAPER AND CURRENT SMOKER]
[FORMER SMOKER: D2=04 AND D3=01]
D4. [DUAL USERS] Which of the following best describes you?
01 - I am a vaper
02 - I am a smoker
03 - I am both a smoker and a vaper
04 - I am neither a smoker nor a vaper
99 – Not sure
D5. [DUAL USERS] Which of the following best describes the main reason you smoke in addition to vaping?
[RANDOMIZE]
01 – Addiction/can't give it up/hard to quit
02 – Habit
03 – Like the feeling after smoking/vaping does not give the same feeling
04 – Craving nicotine/tobacco
05 – Still enjoy smoking
08 – Smoke with other smokers/with a drink/it's a social thing
10 – Smoke when I am stressed/anxious
12 – Like the taste of cigarettes better
94 - Trying to quit smoking gradually
97 – Other (Specify)
99 – Not sure
D6. [IF D2=01] On average, how many cigarettes do you smoke per day?
[IF D2=02,03] On the days that you smoke, about how many cigarettes do you smoke?
____ Cigarettes per day (NUMERICAL RESPONSE)
D7. [DUAL USERS] In a typical day, how many times do you vape because you cannot smoke a cigarette (for example, in places where smoking is not permitted or accepted)?
ENTER NUMBER OF TIMES ________ [RANGE 0-50]
99 – Not sure
D8. [D2=01,02,03] How many times have you tried to quit smoking?
___ times [RANGE 1-999]
99 - I have never tried to quit smoking. [SKIP TO SECTION E]
D9. [D2=01,02,03] What was the longest time you have gone without smoking?
___ days [RANGE 1-6] OR ___ weeks [RANGE 1-3] OR ___months [RANGE 1-11] OR ____ years [RANGE 1-99]
D10. [FORMER SMOKER] How long ago did you quit smoking?
___ days [RANGE 1-6] OR ___ weeks [RANGE 1-3] OR ___months [RANGE 1-11] OR ____ years [RANGE 1-99]
D11. [D2=01,02,03 OR FORMER SMOKER] How useful has vaping been in helping you reduce or quit smoking? Use a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means not useful at all, and 10 means extremely useful.
01 Not useful at all
10 Very useful
D11b. [D2=01,02,03 OR FORMER SMOKER] With whom did you talk about using vaping to help you reduce or quit smoking? Select all that apply.
01 – Health care professional (e.g., doctor, nurse, dentist)
02 – Vape shop staff
03 – Friends and/or family
04 – Other, please specify
05 – No one [UNIQUE SELECTION]
D12. [D2=01,02,03 OR FORMER SMOKER] What other methods have you used to help you quit or reduce smoking?
Select all that apply.
01 - Nicotine patch
02 - Nicotine gum
03 - Nicotine inhaler
04 - Nicotine nasal spray
05 - Nicotine lozenge
06 - Nicotine mouth spray
07 - Prescription medication like Zyban, Wellbutrin or Champix
09 - Reducing the number of cigarettes
10 - Cold turkey
11 - Other, please specify
12 – None of these [UNIQUE SELECTION]
E1. [ASK ALL] Are you currently trying, or have you previously tried...?
GRID - SHOW IN ORDER
| Status | Currently trying (01) |
Previously tried (but not currently) (02) |
Never tried (03) |
|---|---|---|---|
| a. To stop vaping | - | - | - |
| b. To reduce your frequency of vaping | - | - | - |
E2. [ASK IF E1A= 01 OR 02] How many times have you tried to quit vaping?
___ times
E3. [ASK IF E1A = 01 OR 02] Since you began vaping regularly (i.e., at least once a week), have you ever stopped vaping for more than a week?
01 – Yes
02 – No
E4. [ASK ALL] What was the longest time you have gone without vaping?
___ days [RANGE 1-6] OR ___ weeks [RANGE 1-3] OR ___months [RANGE 1-11] OR ____ years [RANGE 1-99]
E5. [ASK ALL] How important is stopping vaping to you? Use a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means stopping vaping is not important at all, and 10 means it is the most important goal of your life.
01 – Not important at all
10 – Most important goal of my life
E6. [ASK IF E1A = 01] How confident are you that you will quit vaping for good?
[ASK IF E1A = 02, 03] How confident are you that you will eventually quit vaping for good?
Use a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means not confident at all, and 10 means extremely confident.
01 – Not at all confident
10 – Extremely confident
E7. [ASK ALL] Different people have their own reasons for trying to stop vaping. Even if you're not planning to stop vaping right now, it may be something you think about or hear about from time to time.
Consider the following statements about why people might try to stop vaping, and indicate how true or not true each one is for you, on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means "not true at all" and 10 means "very true."
01 – Not true at all
10 – Very true
[GRID, RANDOMIZE BUT SHOW F LAST]
[SHOW WITH A TO E] If I stopped vaping, it would be…
a) Because I feel that I want to take responsibility for my own health.
b) Because I would feel guilty or ashamed of myself if I vaped.
c) Because I personally believe it is the best thing for my health.
d) Because I have carefully thought about it and believe it is very important for many aspects of my life.
e) Because I feel pressure from others to not vape.
f) [ALWAYS SHOW LAST, DO NOT SHOW "If I stopped vaping…"] I really don't think about stopping vaping.
F1. From where do you usually get your vaping devices and liquids?
Select all that apply.
| Statement | Vaping devices A) |
Vaping liquids B) |
|---|---|---|
| I buy it myself at a vape shop (in person, not online) | 01 | 01 |
| I buy it myself at a gas station, pharmacy or convenience/grocery store | 02 | 02 |
| I buy it myself online | 04 | 04 |
| I gave a friend/family member some money to buy it for me | 05 | 05 |
| A friend/family member gives/lends it to me | 08 | 08 |
| Other (SPECIFY) | 97 | 97 |
| Not sure | 99 | 99 |
F2. In the last 6 months, was there ever a time you could not get a vape flavour or device you wanted?
01-Yes
02-No
F3. [IF F2=YES] What was the reason you couldn't get the vape flavour or device you wanted?
Select all that apply.
01-Store closed permanently
02-Store closed temporarily (e.g., COVID-19-related lockdown)
03-Too expensive/couldn't afford it
04-My favourite flavour was no longer available
05-My favourite device was no longer available
06-My age (I was too young) [HIDE IF AGE > 25]
98-Other (please specify)
99-Not sure
F4. Excluding flavours, what elements on the packaging for vaping products catch your attention? Select all that apply.
01 - The brand/company name and/or brand/company logo
02 - The form and shape of the packaging/container
03 - Brand or company slogan or motto
04 - Colours
05 - Images and graphic arrangement
97 - Other, please specify:
99 - None of the above [EXCLUSIVE]
F4b [ASK ALL] What type of vaping device do you currently use? Please select all that apply.
01 - Cig-a-like
02 - Pen
03 - Tank or mod
04 - Pod
05 – Other, please specify
F5. Thinking about the device you currently use most, how important were the following considerations when you chose that device?
01 - Not at all important
02 - Not very important
03 - Somewhat important
04 - Very important
[GRID, RANDOMIZE]
a) Size of device
b) Device quality
c) Attractive appearance
d) Easy to hide the device
e) Convenience of use and ease of maintenance
f) Refillable
g) Disposable
h) Visibility and size of cloud for things like cloud chasing and vaping tricks
i) Other device features or functions
j) Advice of friends
k) Advice of salesperson
F6. How much did you spend in the past month on vaping devices (including each of its components) and on pods or e-liquids? ENTER NUMBER
On devices $_______ [RANGE $0-$700]
99 - I don't know
On pods or e-liquids $_______ [RANGE $0-$250]
99 - I don't know
F7. How affordable are the vaping devices and liquids you buy? Use a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means very unaffordable, and 10 means very affordable.
01 – Very unaffordable
10 – Very affordable
The following questions are about cannabis.
For the purpose of this survey, "cannabis" also refers to the terms marijuana, pot, or hashish.
G1. Have you ever tried using cannabis in any of the following ways?
| Form | Yes (01) |
No (02) |
|---|---|---|
| a. Vaping | - | - |
| b. Smoking | - | - |
| c. Edibles | - | - |
G2. [ASK G2A IF G1A = YES, ASK G2B IF G1B = YES, ASK G2C IF G1C = YES] In the past 30 days, how often did you use cannabis?
| Form | Daily (01) |
Less than daily, but at least once a week (02) |
Less than once a week, but at least once in the past month (03) |
Not at all (04) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. Vaping | - | - | - | - |
| b. Smoking | - | - | - | - |
| c. Edibles | - | - | - | - |
G2b. [ASK IF G2A = 01,02,03] Thinking of the past 30 days, while you are vaping cannabis, do you find you…?
a) [IF B1=01,02,03] Vape with nicotine
b) [IF B2=01,02,03] Vape without nicotine
01 - Less
02 - The same
03 - More
G2c. [ASK IF G2B = 01,02,03] Thinking of the past 30 days, while you are smoking cannabis, do you find you…?
a) [IF B1=01,02,03] Vape with nicotine
b) [IF B2=01,02,03] Vape without nicotine
01 - Less
02 - The same
03 - More
Next, we have a few questions about drinking alcohol.
G3. Have you ever had a drink with alcohol?
01 - Yes
02 – No
G4. [ASK IF G3 = YES] In the past 30 days, how often did you drink at least one alcoholic beverage?
01 - Daily
02 - Less than daily, but at least once a week
03 - Less than once a week, but at least once in the past month
04 - Not at all
G5. [ASK IF G3 = 1] Thinking of the past 30 days, while you are having alcoholic beverages, do you find you…?
a) Vape with nicotine
b) Vape without nicotine
01 - Less
02 - The same
03 - More
G6. [ASK ALL] How harmful do you feel each of the following is, if done on a regular basis? Use a scale from 1 to 10 where 1 means "Not harmful at all" and 10 means "Extremely harmful." [GRID, RANDOMIZE]
a) Vaping with nicotine (excluding cannabis)
b) Smoking cigarettes
c) Vaping cannabis
d) Smoking cannabis
e) Drinking alcohol
f) Eating junk food
01 – Not harmful at all
10 – Extremely harmful
H. Respondent characteristics
The following are a few questions about you and your household, for statistical purposes only. Please be assured all of your answers will remain completely anonymous.
H1. What language do you speak most often at home?
01 – English
02 – French
03 – Other
99 – Prefer not to say
H2. What is your current marital status?
01 - Never legally married nor lived with a common-law partner
02 - Legally married (and not separated)
03 - Living with a common-law partner
04 - Separated, but still legally married
05 - Divorced
06 - Widowed
99 – Prefer not to say
H3. Which of the following best describes you?
Select one only
01 – First Nations
02 – Métis
03 – Inuk (Inuit)
04 – A non-Indigenous person
99 – Prefer not to say
H4. Do you identify as either of the following?
Select one response for each
a) A member of a visible minority group
b) A member of the LGBTQ2+ community
01 - Yes
02 - No
99 – Prefer not to say
H5. What is the highest level of formal education you have completed?
Select one only
01–Less than a high school diploma or equivalent
02–High school diploma or equivalent
03–Registered Apprenticeship or other trades certificate or diploma
04–College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma
05–University certificate or diploma below bachelor's level
06–Bachelor's degree
07–Postgraduate degree above bachelor's level
99–Prefer not to say
H6. Which of the following categories best describes your current employment status?
Select one only
01 - Working full-time, that is, 35 or more hours per week
02 - Working part-time, that is, less than 35 hours per week
03 - Self-employed
04 - Unemployed, but looking for work
05 - A student attending school full-time/part-time
06 - Retired
07 - Not in the workforce (full-time homemaker, unemployed and not looking for work)
97 - Other [DO NOT SPECIFY]
99 - Prefer not to say
H7. [IF H6=04 ASK] Have you been unemployed for more than a year?
01 – Yes
02 – No
99 – Prefer not to say
H8. [IF H6=01, 02, 03] Are you working from home?
01 – Yes
02 – No
03 – A mix of both
99 – Prefer not to say
H9. [IF H6 = 01, 02, 03] Which of the following categories best describes your main occupation?
[IF H7 = 02] Which of the following categories best describes your most recent occupation?
99 - Prefer not to say
H10. [ASK 16+ ONLY] Which of the following best describes your total household income for 2020, before taxes, from all sources for all household members?
Select one only
01–Under $20,000
02–$20,000 to just under $40,000
03–$40,000 to just under $60,000
04–$60,000 to just under $80,000
05–$80,000 to just under $100,000
06–$100,000 to just under $150,000
07–$150,000 and above
99–Prefer not to say
H11. [ASK AGE < 18 ONLY] How much money do you usually get each week to spend on yourself or to save? Please include money from allowances, gifts, or jobs.
01 – No money
02 – Under $20
02 – $20 to just under $40
03 – $40 to just under $60
04 – $60 to just under $80
05 – $80 to just under $100
06 – $100 and above
99 – Prefer not to say
H12. [ASK 18+ ONLY} Are there any children under 18 years of age living in your household?
01 – Yes
02 – No
99 – Prefer not to say
Applicable panels: Request for follow up email for subsequent waves
H13. We would like to get your email to follow up with you, to learn about how your vaping may change over time. Could you please provide an email for us to do this? It will not be used for any other purpose. This request has been approved by your research panel.
_________ Please enter your email - PROMPT FOR VALID EMAIL FORMAT
99–Prefer not to provide
This completes the survey. On behalf of Health Canada, thank you for your valuable input. In the coming months, the results of this survey will be available on the Library and Archives Canada website.