Factors Associated with Different Cigarette Access Behaviours Among Underage Smoking Youth Who Usually Smoke Contraband (Native) Cigarettes (Quantitative Research) (Report‪)‬

Point-of-sale access restrictions have been developed to prevent under-age youth from purchasing tobacco, (1,2) yet they are often ineffective. (3-5) It is common for youth to obtain cigarettes through retailers or through social sources such as family, friends and strangers. (3,4,6-8) Under-age youth obtain cigarettes relatively easily, even with access restrictions. We also know that although smoking rates have declined in recent years, (9) the recent emergence of contraband cigarettes is cause for concern. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), there are currently four major types of contraband tobacco available in the Canadian market: 1) unlawfully/lawfully manufactured Canadian products or US products smuggled into Canada; 2) diverted tax-exempt tobacco products; 3) counterfeit tobacco products; and 4) tobacco products from other criminal activities (i.e., cargo thefts, store thefts, etc.). (10) At the present time, two of the larger sources of contraband tobacco in Canada are: native manufacturers that either unlawfully or lawfully manufacture products in Canada or in the US and then smuggle them into Canada; and tax-exempt cigarettes designated for purchase by Aboriginals on First Nations Reserves that are illegally diverted to the general population. (10) Not only are contraband cigarettes more affordable for youth smokers (which is important given the association between the price of cigarettes and youth smoking prevalence (11), but they also appear to undermine access restrictions. (12) For instance, research suggests that strategies that effectively restrict commercial access to cigarettes can increase the reliance youth have on social sources of contraband cigarettes. (13) Considering the extremely low price and the apparent ease with which youth smokers access these products, (14-16) we need to better understand how youth smokers access contraband cigarettes. Social Cognitive Theory (17) suggests that social, personal and behavioural characteristics would be associated with how youth access cigarettes. This has been supported with empirical research. (3,6,7,13-22) For instance, youth smokers commonly report getting cigarettes from friends or strangers. (6,7,13,18,19) We also know that youth who believe it is difficult to obtain tobacco from retailers are more apt to use social sources such as family members, (20) whereas heavier smokers are more likely to buy their own from a store. (3,12,21,22) The current study seeks to explore if characteristics from these three domains are associated with the cigarette access behaviour of Canadian youth who smoke contraband cigarettes.