Durham — After the rise in the number of North American teens turning to electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) was deemed “epidemic” by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner, Canadian public health officials are pushing for more to be done to educate students about vaping.
According to the Canadian Student, Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey for 2016-2017, 23 per cent of students reported trying e-cigarettes while 10 per cent reported having used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days.
E-cigarettes are battery-powered and convert liquid nicotine into vapour, which the user inhales. While E-cigarettes do not contain the same harmful chemicals found in standard cigarettes such as tar or carbon monoxide they still come with risks. Julie Marquardt, public health nurse with Durham Region Health Department, says vaping still contains other harmful chemicals.
“Nicotine, especially in youth, is of particular concern because nicotine can alter teen brain development and can affect memory and concentration,” says Marquardt. “E-liquid has also been linked to lung damage, heart disease and eye irritation.”
The health department used data from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s (CAMH) Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey to see what students felt about e-cigarettes and the effects on their health.
“According to our 2017 data, 13 per cent of elementary and nine per cent of secondary students felt there’s no risk to their health if they smoke e-cigarettes regularly,” she says. “We find that to be of particular concern.”
However, the owner of The Vape Store in Oshawa, Shaun McQueen, feels the vape industry isn’t to blame for the increase in the presence of e-cigarettes in schools.
“How vapes get into schools is something different,” says McQueen. “We’re very progressive in making sure our products don’t end up in the hands of youth.”
McQueen says Health Canada regulations mean any person under the age of 19 can’t buy vaping products, prompting him to believe students are likely obtaining e-cigarettes from someone in their social circle. He adds it’s possible parents themselves could be supplying their kids with e-cigarettes because they believe it’s a “better alternative to smoking.”
McQueen says vape stores are legally obligated to follow regulations, and the average seller is not targeting youth.
“Our services are very basic. We provide vapes for adult smokers who want to quit,” says McQueen. “We don’t even permit people under 19 to come in our store. We take pride in making sure our vapes don’t get into children’s hands.”
McQueen also points out convenience stores, which have been known to sell e-cigarettes and tobacco products, could also be to blame as they may feel less inclined to ask customers for proof of age.
“There is opportunity in convenience stores for education,” he says, adding there are “far more” infractions against convenience stores than licensed vape stores.
According to Durham Regional Police Const. George Tudos, organizations suspected of selling e-cigarettes or vaping products to underage people will be investigated to determine if they aren’t following regulations, adding that legal consequence is determined on a case-by-case basis.
“We have to make sure we enforce the laws in our community,” says Tudos. “We want to make sure everyone is safe.”
As media coverage about teens vaping continues, McQueen says he can’t speak for everyone in the industry but assures his stores are trying to be a part of the solution, not the problem.
“We are aware of the youth issue and we’re making sure we’re not a part of the problem,” he says. “We don’t want youth to make the decision to vape. We are self-policing in our industry to make sure we’re all doing our part to keep vape from getting into the hands of youth.”
The Durham Region Health Department does not promote smoking in any form.
Marquardt says she feels it’s important for students to remember it is not only illegal for them to own e-cigarettes and vaping products, but also the potential risks they pose to their health.
“Our health department’s key message goes back to if you don’t smoke, don’t vape,” says Marquardt. “It might be a quitting aid for adults who are smoking, but it shouldn’t be used by youth or non-smokers.”
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