The Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey provides information about the smoking habits of Ontario residents, monitoring trends and observing differences in the smoking rates between males and females and by age (fig1_smoking).

The Canadian Community Health Survey also provides information about smoking habits, initiation age, (fig5_smoking) and exposure to second hand smoke in the non-smoking population. This survey indicates that smoking prevalence is higher in LGL than in Ontario as a whole, very early initiation of smoking (ages 12-14 years) is similar, and non-smokers are more likely to be exposed to second hand smoke (fig6_smoking).

• In Leeds Grenville and Lanark, adult residents were surveyed in 2003¹ regarding tobacco use. 57% of those surveyed reported having some history of smoking - having smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. Of these individuals, over half no longer smoked at all. Overall almost 25% of those surveyed were current smokers. The majority of current smokers were daily smokers.
• Of current smokers, almost half were considering quitting in the next six months, and over 16% were preparing to quit within the next month (fig2_smoking).
• 21% of households reported having smoking regularly inside the home (fig3_smoking).
• Respondents were also asked about their policy regarding visitors smoking. 57% did not allow visitors to smoke in their home.
• Attitudes about smoking in vehicles was also explored (fig4_smoking). The majority (66.6%) did not allow any smoking in their vehicle, with females being somewhat more likely than males to have this rule, and the proportion with this rule generally increasing with increasing age group.

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¹ Ontario Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System 2003