Tobacco, Vaping and Youth

A vape device is a battery powered device that heats a liquid chemical (e-liquid), into an aerosol (sometimes called a “vapour” or “cloud”). Vape devices are known by several names including e-cigarettes, e-hookahs, mods, vape pens, vapes, tank systems, or by a brand name.

E-liquid does not contain tobacco; however, most e-liquids contain nicotine, which is the highly addictive substance found in cigarettes, cigars, hookah, chew and other commercial nicotine products. Some vaping products contain even more nicotine than a pack of cigarettes. No matter the form, nicotine is highly addictive and has risks to the developing youth brain.

Vaping can increase exposure to nicotine and potentially harmful chemicals. The aerosol is made up of chemical particles, often including nicotine, which can be inhaled – this is called vaping. When the vaping device is heated, other chemicals like formaldehyde, known to cause cancer, and metals like nickel, tin and aluminum, known to cause lung damage, can also be found in the aerosol. The aerosol is not harmless water vapour and is now known to have short- and long-term health risks.

Some of the known health risks include:

• Lung damage: Vaping can make it hard to breathe, cause symptoms like wheeze and cough, as well as worsen existing lung conditions like asthma
• Stress on the heart: Vaping nicotine can increase heart rate and blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart attack. Using both cigarettes and vapes can increase this risk even more
• Altered Brain Development: Nicotine can alter teenage brain development, which occurs until the mid-twenties. Nicotine can affect memory, concentration, impulse control and lead to mood disorders. Vape devices are also used to inhale other substances, such as cannabis, which can impact the brain
• Addiction: The developing youth brain is more vulnerable to addiction. No matter the form, nicotine is highly addictive. Vaping nicotine may lead to use of cigarettes and addiction to other substances
• Mental health: Many youth say they vape to deal with feelings of stress, anxiety or depression, however using nicotine can actually make these symptoms worse. Nicotine cravings and withdrawal can lead to feeling irritable, restless, anxious, low mood, trouble sleeping and concentrating, headaches and more
• Oral Health: The chemical propylene glycol (PG) found in vapes, absorbs moisture (like saliva), which can lead to dry mouth. Dry mouth can lead to tooth decay, gum infections, changes in taste and bad breath
• Eye and throat irritation: Chemical particles can also cause eye and throat irritation
• Nicotine poisoning: E-liquids can contain very high levels of nicotine and even in small amounts, if absorbed through the skin, mouth or eyes can cause serious harm to a child, adult or an animal. Always keep these products out of reach from children and pets. Learn More

No matter the form, nicotine is highly addictive and is harmful to the developing brain.

There are many models of vaping products that come in a variety of shapes and styles, and new products are emerging. 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 come in a variety of flavours, although 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 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 worsening asthma
• Sweet smells, such as fruit, dessert, or mint
• Spending a lot of time with friends who vape

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

Most of us use social media on a daily basis, especially youth. The tobacco and vape industry are aware of this and take advantage of these platforms as a way to engage youth to make their products look desirable to use. They are often promoted positively by people that youth recognize as peers, social media influencers or even celebrities.

These endorsements emphasize the attractive aspects of vaping that appeal to youth, including the different colours and flavours. Age restrictions and health harms are usually not mentioned. These social media marketing tactics can increase the likelihood of vaping in youth and people who do not smoke. The industry hopes to gain new users and work constantly to find them through targeting youth.

Here are a few tips to protect your kids from the unwanted influences of social media:

• Adjust device settings by using content controls and screen time settings to set time limits
• Monitor and discuss your child’s social media use in a non-judgmental manner, asking them what they saw and their understanding of it
  • Let your child lead the conversation if they are willing to
  • Pay attention to how your questions are framed to avoid implying judgment
• Encourage media literacy by discussing whether what they see on social media mirrors the real world and how to judge if something is reliable and trustworthy

According to youth in Canada, the most common reasons why they used a vaping product was to deal with feelings of stress, a desire to fit in/social influence and/or curiosity. Learning more about why youth may try vaping or other nicotine products can help you prepare in how to start the conversation.

The Real Cost presents the “My Vaping Mistake” video series of real youth sharing personal stories that address the common themes and experiences surrounding teen vaping.

Each youth will have their own individual experiences and reasons why they may try these products. Watch the rest of the video series to gain a better understanding or watch them together with youth to start the conversation.

If you know a youth ready to quit, there are supports available that you can share with them. Please see the “Quit supports for youth” section on this page.

 Talking with your child is a good way to help them stay tobacco and nicotine-free.

Starting the conversation:

• Know your child(ren):
  • How they feel
  • What they like
  • Who their friends are
• Talk about family stories and your experience with tobacco and vaping
• Ask questions about what they know and how they feel about tobacco and vaping. Pay attention to how your questions are framed to avoid implying judgement
• Share some tobacco and vaping facts with them
• If your children’s friends use tobacco or vaping products (e-cigarettes), disapprove of the USE of these products rather than disapproving of the friends themselves
• Look for opportunities to talk about tobacco and vaping

Remember, listening is just as important as talking. Let your child lead the conversation if they are willing to.

If you use tobacco or vaping products, you can still talk with your kids:

• Talk about your tobacco or vape use and why you do not like it or do not want your kids to start
• Talk about your struggles and journey to quitting
• Talk about your hope for their good health

If your child uses tobacco or vapes:

• Keep calm
• Do not scold
• Talk about the facts and ask questions that avoid judgment
• Talk about how you feel about tobacco and vaping and that you care
• Disapprove the tobacco or vape use, not the child
• Keep the lines of communication open. Try to use empathy and an empathetic tone

For more information on how to talk with your kids check out: Talking with your teen about vaping - Canadian Paediatric Society

Talking with youth about tobacco and vaping and incorporating nicotine-use prevention and awareness activities into your curriculum and programs can make a difference.

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 these products and/or engage in behaviours that might be harmful to their health
• Role play, practice and provide options on how to refuse tobacco/vape products to help youth prepare for situations involving tobacco and vaping with their peers
• Equip youth with the information, skills and the motivation they need to make informed and healthy choices

Brushing up on your short conversation skills is an effective way to engage with youth using a sensitive and non-judgmental approach that both motivates and supports them. Explore the Brief Conversations Toolkit and learn more about how you can make a life-changing impact in less than three minutes.

Resources for the classroom and community groups

Incorporate tobacco use and vaping prevention and awareness into your classroom curriculum, Healthy Schools Action Plan, or existing youth clubs and programming. The following resources can help get you started:

• Not an Experiment (Grade 7 to 12) is a digital toolkit to educate and build capacity among educators, parents and youth about vaping, including cross-curricular linked lesson plans, an interactive escape room-style activity, as well as resources to support vape-free school environments. A Game Kit is available to borrow to support this activity by contacting your Healthy School representative or email @email
• Consider the Consequences of Vaping (Grade 8 to 12) includes online modules for classrooms or community settings to provide youth with information on the about vaping. This module includes activities, videos, informative content, and discussion questions
• VIBED (Grades 9 to 12) is a youth-oriented vaping education workshop designed to be delivered by educators or adult allies to empower young individuals with knowledge about vaping and its potential health impacts
• My Vaping Mistake is a video series sharing youth experiences about how their vaping addiction affected their mental health, sport performance, friendships and more. This series comes from The Real Cost which is a public education campaign in the U.S. created by the FDA
• Academy for Tobacco Prevention (Grades 4 to 6) is a curriculum matched resource including lesson plans and an interactive card game. A Game Kit is available to borrow to support this activity by contacting your Healthy School representative or email @email
• OPHEA Conversation Starter Videos (Grades 4 to 8) are designed to initiate conversations about vaping with elementary students. Engaging students in conversations about vaping helps them develop their health knowledge and the social-emotional learning skills needed to respond to situations involving vaping
• The Healthy Schools Student Club Tobacco and Vape-Free Activity Guide is a resource to support student leaders to engage their peers in understanding tobacco and vape use and promote prevention through interactive displays, games and more. For more information, please contact your Healthy School representative or email @email

Quitting vaping and tobacco is one of the best things someone can do to improve their health. Setbacks can happen, but remember quitting is a process that can take several tries. Research shows that the chances of quitting for good increases with every try.  

If a teen or young person (youth) in your life is looking for supports, sharing some of these resources may help:

• Youth Nicotine and Vaping Treatment Program (CAMH): A tobacco and nicotine use treatment program provided by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). To enroll in treatment at CAMH’s Nicotine Dependence Clinic: Call Access CAMH at 416-535-8501 and select option 2 
• Quash: A free vaping/smoking quit app for ages 14-30 focusing on behaviour change strategies to help young people cut down or quit the way they want to
• Stop Vaping Challenge: A free quit vaping app youth can use with friends. It allows users to earn badges, challenge friends and track cravings
• Crush the Crave: A free app that provides supportive messages, virtual awards and help to deal with vape cravings. Track the number of days you stay vape-free, amount of money saved and triggers
• Nod from 2050: A website that encourages youth to reflect on their long-term goals with respect to vaping nicotine. It is informed by research on specific techniques associated with higher success in successful behaviour change, including supporting identity change and developing a vivid mental image of becoming an ex-vaper
• Not an Experiment – Quit Plan: A free online quit plan that can be printed and is small enough to keep in a pocket, wallet or backpack. Youth can complete the quit plan online and print, or booklets can be printed and completed by hand
• I Quit for Me (Health Canada): I quit for me aims to help youth ages 14 to18 quit smoking and/or vaping. Written specifically for youth, the guide is available in digital and print formats, and can be used on their own, or as part of a facilitated group program
• Smokers’ Helpline: Offers online resources and a texting program for people looking to quit vaping, smoking or both. To join the Smokers’ Helpline text program, text ‘iQuit’ to 123456
• Kids Help Phone: Kids Help Phone is always open, offering mental health support and a non-judgmental space to young people across Canada. Youth can learn more, build skills, connect with other youth and receiving direct counselling supports

Legal considerations

In Ontario, it is illegal to sell or supply vape or tobacco products to anyone under 19 years of age. It is also illegal to vape anywhere you can’t smoke cigarettes.

Federally, the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA) was enacted on May 23, 2018 to regulate the manufacture, sale, labelling and promotion of tobacco and vaping products sold in Canada.

Provincially, the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 places restrictions on the promotion, display and sale of tobacco and vaping products. This includes:

• Prohibiting the sale and supply of e-cigarettes to anyone under 19 years of age
• Prohibiting the sale of vaping products where the sale of tobacco is banned
• Prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes in places where smoking tobacco is banned, such as school grounds, enclosed workplaces, enclosed public places, restaurants and bars, including patios and certain public spaces such as playgrounds and sporting areas
• Prohibiting the sale of flavoured tobacco products (except wine, port and rum flavours)
• Prohibiting the sale of flavoured vapour products in convenience stores (except tobacco flavour and mint flavour)
• Prohibiting the sale of vapour products which contain nicotine levels greater than 20mg/mL

For more information, visit: Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Spaces York Region