Determining the proportion of illicit (contraband) cigarettes in a local

public health jurisdiction

Julie Stratton, Manager, EpidemiologyPeel Public Health

BackgroundSelf report surveys:

Most smokers buy their cigarettes legally

1% of Canadians might have purchased smuggled cigarettes (CTUMS)

13% of Canadians buy cigarettes from a First Nations reserve (23% of Ontarians)

Background Cigarette Butt StudiesCanadian Convenience Store Association

26% in Ontario youth (2008)38% in Peel youth (2008)

Ontario Convenience Store Association21% in Ontario residents (2014)22% in Brampton residents (2014)

Post-secondary campuses in Ontario – 14%

Peel Region• West of Toronto

• 1.3 million residents (20,000 people added each year)

•15% of Peel residents smoke

Research QuestionsWhat proportion of cigarettes in the

Region of Peel are illicit (untaxed?)

Are there differences in the proportion of illicit cigarettes by location of collection?

Methods – Sampling Frame4 types of locations within Peel Region

Regional hospitals (3 locations)Regional buildings serving the public (2 locations)

College campuses (2 locations) and university campus (1 location)

Secondary schools (random selection of 10 locations)

Methods – Pilot Study

Piloted process from one location from each venueCollectionIdentification

Methods – Sample SizeRequired 1,209 butts per venueParameters

Estimated number of cigarettes smoked per dayEstimated per cent of contraband based on pilot

studyAdjustment factor 1/0.7 - 1Precision of the estimate = 3%Statistical power = 80%Type 1 error rate = 5%Cigarette butt discard rate based on results of

pilot study

Methods – Collection and StorageHand collection from the ground or

dumped from cigarette disposal binsCollected butts until quota was metCollected on non-rainy daysStored in a fire proof cabinet in

plastic bins at an off-site location

Classification - TestingBrand name or symbolExistence of a dry patch within the

plug wrapNumber of rows and type of

ventilation holesType of filter (acetate or

polypropylene)Resources:

www.cigarettespedia.com

Classification – Brand NameExamplesdu MaurierPlayer’sMatineeViceroyExport A

Classification – Plug Wrap and Dry Patch

Plug wrap

Dry patch (area with no glue)

Classification – Ventilation Holes

Mechanical

Electrostatic

Laser

Classification - FilterPolypropylene vs acetate

Some illegal cigarettes use polypropylene filtersDo not dissolve in acetone

ClassificationLegal brandedInternationalLegal nativeContraband (illegal)DiscardsUnknown or other

Classification – Legal NativePuttersDKSSagoMénagePodium

Classification – Contraband ExamplesCanadianPlayfairUnbranded

ResultsTotal Collected and Discard Rate

Location Total collected

Total discards

Discard Rate (per cent)

Hospitals 3,140 449 14.3

Regional Buildings

2,804 370 13.2

College/university campuses

4,808 670 13.9

Secondary schools

3,280 562 17.1

TOTAL 14,032 2,051 14.6

Results – Overall Classification Classification Number Per CentLegal branded 10,663 89.0International 144 1.2Native legal 530 4.4

Contraband (Illegal)

629 5.3

Unknown or other

15 0.1

Note: Excludes discards

Results - Native Legal and Contraband by VenuePopulation Representing

Venue Per Cent Native Legal

Per Cent Contraband

Youth Secondary schools

3.1 8.6

Young adult College/university campuses

1.4 2.8

General population

Hospitals, Regional buildings

7.6 5.5

ConclusionLower percentage of contraband

cigarette butts than reported in other studies (5.3%)

The percentage of contraband cigarette butts varied by venue (highest in secondary schools)

Contraband rates are low - Peel will focus on other aspects of tobacco control

Implications for Public health practiceCollection of cigarette butts to assess

percentage of contraband cigarettes can easily be replicated in the field

Peel Health has developed the following protocols which can be shared:Cigarette Butt Study protocolCigarette Butt Collection ProtocolCigarette Butt Identification ProtocolCigarette Butt Photo Library

For more informationJulie Stratton, Manager,

Epidemiology, Peel Public Health, julie.stratton@peelregion.ca

Dr. Megan Ward, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Peel Public Health, megan.ward@peelregion.ca

Limitations

International and some contraband cigarettes might have been classified as legal

Selection of venues