A new video campaign is aiming to shed light on the issue of youth vaping in Canada.
The campaign is a partnership between Heart & Stroke and the Canadian Lung Association.
Terry Dean, president and CEO of the Canadian Lung Association, describes youth vaping as a serious health issue.
“We’re seeing one-in-five students who are vaping, so the numbers just keep going up, and that in itself is alarming,” said Dean.
“I can’t speak on behalf of all health organizations, but we’re shocked. This is unprecedented.”
New research shows 83 per cent of youth aged 15 to 19 have tried flavoured vaping products, and one-in-four kids as young as tried have tried vaping.
Dean believes several things have led to an increase in youth vaping rates, including the wide range of flavours.
“I don’t think the world needs 7,000 flavours,” he said. “We’re advocating for very restrictive regulations around the flavours that are offered, so being very select in what’s available.”
Dean also cites the addictive nature of nicotine and the “aggressive” advertising around vaping products.
In December, the federal government announced it is looking to ban the advertising of vaping products wherever they can be seen or heard by youth.
Dean said they hope the video campaign can cut through the information — and misinformation — which exists around vaping.
“These devices were initially brought on to the market and marketed as harmless and as a smoking cessation tool. I can tell you today, and I think the health community would certainly confirm, these products are not harmless,” he said.
“If you are vaping and you’re using that to try and stop smoking, then your end goal should be to both stop vaping and stop smoking. If you’re not vaping today, please don’t start.”
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