Youth and Vaping

Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol produced by a vape device. Vape devices are known by several names including e-cigs, e-hookahs, mods, vape pens, vapes, or tank systems. They are also sometimes referred to by their brand names. Vapes contain four basic components: a cartridge or a tank to hold the e-liquid, a heating element known as an atomizer, a battery and a mouthpiece to inhale. 

E-liquid does not contain tobacco, however, most of these products contain highly addictive nicotine – the same substance found in cigarettes. In 2021, over 80% of Ontario students in grades 7 to 12 who vaped in the past year, reported vaping nicotine (Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey 2021).

Concerns about youth vaping include:

• Most e-liquids contain addictive nicotine at levels significantly higher than what is found in cigarettes
• Some e-liquids contains as much nicotine as one pack of cigarettes
• Studies have shown that nicotine addiction is stronger when youth start vaping or smoking at a young age
• The teenage brain is still developing, making youth more vulnerable to nicotine addiction
• Nicotine changes how the teenage brain develops, which can affect learning, memory and impulse control, and sometimes lead to behavioural changes
• The lungs are also still developing, and vaping can expose youth to various toxic chemicals
• The long-term safety of inhaling the substances in vaping products is unknown
• Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future
• Vapes are often shared between friends, which can spread communicable diseases like meningitis, mono, the flu and COVID-19. Anyone choosing to vape should use these products with extra care and refrain from sharing vaping products
• Vaping nicotine exposes youth to increased levels of stress hormones worsening feelings of stress, anxiety and depression.

Don’t be fooled by flavoured vapes

Offering flavoured vapes that have appealing tastes and smells is one of the ways that the tobacco and vaping industry targets youth. In fact, many youth who vape use flavoured vapes that taste like fruit, candy or desserts.

Although these vape products may taste or smell good, they are not harmless. Most flavoured vapes contain nicotine and other toxic chemicals.

To help protect youth, most flavoured vapes are banned for sale in many retail establishments in Ontario, with the exception of tobacco, mint and menthol flavoured vapes. Despite this ban, youth are still accessing flavoured vapes from some retail establishments, family and/or friends. For more information, see the Vaping and the Law section on this page.

For more information about the health risks associated with vaping, please visit Tobacco, Vaping and Youth.

Vaping laws, including the Smoke-Free Ontario Act 2017 and the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act, exist to protect health. Getting to know the laws and reporting violations to Public Health are ways you can help protect youth from the health risks of vaping.

In Ontario it is illegal to:

• Sell or supply vape products to anyone under 19 years of age
• Sell flavoured vape products in convenience stores (except for tobacco, menthol and mint flavours)
• Sell vape products which contain nicotine levels greater than 20 mg/ml 
• Vape anywhere you can’t smoke cigarettes, such as school grounds, enclosed workspaces, restaurant patios and certain public spaces such as playgrounds and sporting areas

Help keep vape products away from youth

Even though it is illegal to sell or supply vape products to minors, many youth under 19 years of age are still accessing vapes from some retail establishments, family and/or friends. These include flavoured vapes, as well as illegal vapes which contain nicotine levels greater than 20 mg/ml.

If you see it, report it

To report someone selling or supplying vape products to anyone under 19 years of age, or to report someone vaping in a prohibited place:

• Call: York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653, TTY 1-866-512-6228 or
• Email: @email

York Region Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Control Officers will investigate complaints and take appropriate action.

Enforcement of vaping laws

To enforce vaping laws under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act 2017, York Region Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Control Officers provide education and conduct routine inspections of retail establishments where vape products are sold; inspect public places and work places where it is illegal to vape; and investigate public complaints.

• Fines for selling or supplying vape products to minors start at $400.00
• Fines for vaping in prohibited places start at $250.00

For more information on vaping laws, see Vaping and E-cigarettes and Vape-free and Smoke-free Spaces.

Vapes, also known as electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, are battery powered devices that heat a liquid (e-liquid) into a vapour that can be inhaled. This is commonly called vaping. E-liquid contains propylene glycol, flavouring, and other additives that come in disposable devices, prefilled or refillable containers (e-cartridge or vape pod). E-liquid does not contain tobacco, however, most contain nicotine which is the addictive substance found in cigarettes.

There are many models of vaping products which come in a variety of shapes and styles, and new products are emerging. They are often referred to by different names such as hookah pens, vapes, mods, tanks, or sub-ohms. They are also sometimes referred to by their brand name.

Vapes can be hard to recognize

Vapes and vaping can be difficult to recognize, making it hard for parents to know if their kids are vaping.

Vape devices come in a variety of shapes and sizes with some even resembling a USB flash drive. Add-ons like vinyl "skins" or wraps can also make these items harder to recognize. E-liquids can have high levels of nicotine and, although can come in a variety of flavours, vaping may not leave a lingering identifiable smell.

The best way to find out if a young person you care about is vaping is to have an open conversation with them. Keep an eye on the repeated or extended presence of one or more of these potential signs:

• Changes in mood, such as increased irritability
• Changes in ability to concentrate or focus
• Increased coughing, wheezing and asthma exacerbations
• Sweet smells, such as fruit, dessert, or mint
• Spending a lot of time with friends who vape

If you’re also finding strange electronic parts that you don’t recognize, it’s possible they could be parts of vaping devices.

Retrieved from: Health Canada: Preventing kids and teens from vaping

For more information, read the Vaping Fact Sheet–Vapes/E-Cigarettes: What You Need To Know or visit Vaping and E-Cigarettes.

There are many reasons why youth may start to use vapes. Friends may pressure others to start using vape products. Youth may see family members vape or smoke and imitate that behaviour. Additionally, the last few years may have been extraordinarily difficult for many youth and they may think that vapes and nicotine products will help them cope with stress.

Whether you are a parent, guardian or teacher, starting a discussion with your kids about vaping may not be easy but having the conversation early about drugs and experimenting is important so that youth can get the real facts.

Parents and Caregivers play an important role

The adolescent period is a time of critical growth and development making youth more susceptible to the effects of nicotine, the addictive substance found in many vapes. Nicotine can interfere with teenage brain development and can cause changes in the brain affecting learning, memory and concentration, making youth more susceptible to other substance misuse and risk-taking behaviours.

Some tips for starting a conversation about vapes and youth vaping includes:

• Get the facts about the health risks and laws around vaping before your talk – information and products change quickly so conversations should reflect the child’s growing maturity and the pressures they may face
• Keep your talk informal and look for natural opportunities for discussion (e.g., a new vape store opens near you)
• Ask questions and try to be empathetic about what they know and how they feel about vaping
• Share some vaping facts with them
• If their friends use vapes/e-cigarettes, disapprove of the use of these products rather than disapproving of the friends themselves

Remember: listening is just as important as talking.

For more information and tips about how to talk with youth, read Talking with your teen about vaping: a tip sheet for parents and visit Tobacco, Vaping And Youth.

Teachers and community partners.

Talking with youth about vaping and incorporating nicotine use, prevention and awareness activities into your curriculum and programs can make an enormous difference in their lives.

When talking with youth about tobacco products and vaping, it is important to:

• Understand tobacco and vaping from a youth’s point of view – youth understand the issue differently based on their developmental stage
• Talk about the tactics used by the tobacco industry to make tobacco and vaping appealing to youth. Explain how the industry tempts youth to buy tobacco products and/or engage in behaviours that might be harmful to their health
• Role play, practice and provide options about how to refuse tobacco products to help youth prepare for situations involving tobacco and vaping with their peers
• Equip youth with the information, skills and motivation they need to make informed and healthy choices
• Discuss vape-free laws so youth understand that it is illegal to sell or supply vapes to anyone under 19 years of age; and that it is illegal to vape anywhere you can’t smoke cigarettes, including on or around school and community centre properties, among other places

For more information and for important elementary and secondary school curriculum supports and resources for the classroom, student groups and community partners, visit Tobacco, Vaping And Youth and Not an Experiment.

Quitting vaping/tobacco

Quitting vaping and/or tobacco is one of the best things you can do to improve your health. If you or someone you know needs help, call York Region Access York at 1-877-464-9675 TTY (for those with hearing disabilities) 1-866-512-6228 or email @email.