Tobacco smoking
[last update 2024/01]
Quit attempt¹
¹At least one serious quit attempt in the past 12 months in people who smoked in the past 12 months.
[last update 2024/01]
Tobacco smoking by age
[last update 2023/11]
E-cigarette use
[last update 2024/01]
E-cigarette use by age
[last update 2023/11]
E-cigarette use in smokers¹
Current use, Ever use (current or past)
¹Current and ever (current or past) use among people who smoked in the past 12 months.
[last update 2024/01]
Heated tobacco product use
[last update 2023/11]
About DEBRA
The German Study on Tobacco Use (DEBRA) is a bi-monthly representative, face-to-face household survey on the use of tobacco and alternative nicotine delivery systems (ANDS, such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products) in the German population. The study is coordinated by the Addiction Research and Clinical Epidemiology unit at the Institute of General Practice of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf. The study has been funded by the German Ministry of Health (2019 – current) and the Ministry for Innovation, Science and Research of the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia (2016 – 2019).
Current national statistics
The DEBRA study collects nationally representative data on the use of tobacco and ANDS in the German population. Some key indicators are graphically presented and regularly updated on this website.
Tobacco smoking
Tobacco smoking
[last update 2024/01]
Quit attempt
Quit attempt¹
¹At least one serious quit attempt in the past 12 months in people who smoked in the past 12 months.
[last update 2024/01]
Tobacco smoking by age
Tobacco smoking by age
[last update 2023/11]
E-cigarette use
E-cigarette use
[last update 2024/01]
E-cigarette use by age
E-cigarette use by age
[last update 2023/11]
E-cigarette use in smokers
E-cigarette use in smokers¹
Current use, Ever use (current or past)
¹Current and ever (current or past) use among people who smoked in the past 12 months.
[last update 2024/01]
Heated tobacco product use
Heated tobacco product use
[last update 2023/11]
"The DEBRA study monitors the use of tobacco and alternative nicotine delivery systems in the German population."
Univ.-Prof. Daniel Kotz about the DEBRA-Study
Background of DEBRA
The prevalence of tobacco smoking in Germany is still at a very high level (nearly 30%), and the use of alternative nicotine delivery systems (ANDS) has been increasing in the population. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends monitoring the use of tobacco and ANDS on a national level to support implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and reduce tobacco-related harm. The DEBRA study addresses this recommendation by tracking key variables of patterns and trends in the use of tobacco and ANDS in Germany. Furthermore, the study collects data on relevant associated factors, such as socioeconomic background, alcohol consumption, and mental health. DEBRA will thereby provide nationally representative information for policy health strategies and future scientific studies.
Study design
- Random sampling and quota sampling (50:50)
- German population aged 14+ years
- Bi-monthly representative sample ~N=2,000
(June 2016 – ongoing)
- Computer-assisted face-to-face interview at baseline
- Computer-assisted telephone interview at 6 months
follow-up (tobacco smokers only)
Methodology of DEBRA
The DEBRA study started in June 2016 and consists of cross-sectional, computer-assisted household interviews in people aged 14 years and older. Every two months a new, representative sample of approximately 2,000 respondents will complete the survey every two months. Per wave, about 500-600 respondents identify themselves as current daily or occasional tobacco smokers or recent ex-smokers (quit attempt during last 12 months). At baseline and six months later, this group will answer detailed questions about their use of tobacco and ANDS, including urges to smoke, motivation to stop, rates, smoking, duration and success of quit attempts, internal and external triggers of quit attempts, use of behavioural and pharmacological cessation aids, and attitudes towards tobacco control policies. Smokers and recent ex-smokers are asked to complete a telephone survey 6 months later.
Further information and materials of the DEBRA study can be found on the Open Science Framework.
Study registration
- German Clinical Trials Register:
DRKS00011322, DRKS00017157, DRKS00028054
- Study protocol DOI:
10.1186/s12889-017-4328-2
[last update 2024/01]
>
respondents since 2016
N≈
2,000
new respondents every two months
Milestones
2022
Start of third funding period in March for waves 36 to 51 (until January 2025)
2021
5 years data collection in April/May (N=60,998 in total)
2020
50,000th interview in August 2020
2019
Start of second funding period in June for waves 19 to 35 (until February/March 2022)
2019
Wave 18 of data collection in April/May (N=36,732 in total)
2018
First publication of DEBRA data in Deutsche Ärzteblatt
2017
First international symposium with DEBRA data in Duesseldorf on 30th June
2016
First wave of data collection in June/July (N=2,033)
About DEBRA
The German Study on Tobacco Use (DEBRA) is a bi-monthly representative, face-to-face household survey on the use of tobacco and alternative nicotine delivery systems (ANDS, such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products) in the German population. The study is coordinated by the Addiction Research and Clinical Epidemiology unit at the Institute of General Practice of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf. The study has been funded by the German Ministry of Health (2019 – current) and the Ministry for Innovation, Science and Research of the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia (2016 – 2019).
Funding
