Key Points:
Vaping is prevalent among younger Canadians ages 14 to 30
Ontario has recently intensified its focus on keeping e-cigarettes and vapes out of schools
A vape detector can be an effective tool for deterring student vaping inside schools
According to a 2022 estimate from Canada’s Lung Health Foundation, 750,000 Canadian youth aged 14 to 30 vaped daily – an 80,000-person increase from the year before. That’s enough youth to fill an Olympic Stadium 11 times.
Other vaping statistics The most recent Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey (CNTS) 2022 – which measures the prevalence of cigarette smoking, vaping, cannabis and alcohol use among Canadians aged 15 years and older – indicates that vaping remains persistent among young people in Canada. Thirty percent of Canadian youth aged 15 to 19 years reported having tried vaping at least once in their lives, while 12.3% reported vaping cannabis, unchanged from a year earlier.
Another survey, the Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs Survey, collects data every two years from students between grades 7 and 12. The most recent prevalence rates are from 2021-2022 and showed that:
17% of students in grades 7-12 reported using a vaping product (referred to as an e-cigarette in the survey) within the last 30 days
16% of students have used an e-cigarette with nicotine, and 4% had used an e-cigarette without nicotine in the past 30 days
55% of the students thought it would be “fairly easy” or “very easy” to get an e-cigarette with nicotine if they wanted one, and 54% thought it would be “fairly easy” or “very easy” to get an e-cigarette without nicotine if they wanted one
Among students who used cannabis, 54% reported vaping liquid cannabis, and 34% reported vaping dried cannabis in the past 12 months
Ontario takes action
Ontario’s Minister of Education recently announced initiatives aimed at combating school vaping, including:
Implementing a uniform policy that students caught with e-cigarettes or vape devices will be required to surrender the products, with parents or guardians notified immediately
Enhancing existing mandatory education regarding cannabis and vaping within the Health and Physical Education curriculum
Providing $500,000 to community partners, such as the Canadian Lung Association and the Lung Health Foundation, to provide education and support related to student use of vape, tobacco, nicotine and cannabis products
Investing $30 million over three years (2024-2025 to 2026-2027) to help equip schools with security cameras, lighting, other security upgrades and vape detectors
Vape detectors: An important piece in prevention
Utilizing the technology of vape detectors has proven useful in school settings, as they can be discreetly placed in areas such as bathrooms, staircases, entryways, and locker rooms. These devices can quickly identify all types of vape, including nicotine, non-nicotine and marijuana (THC), provide real-time alerts to school personnel and promote a healthier environment.
An interview with Emily Samuel, a principal in Ontario, further underscores how vape detectors may address school vaping. “We have found them extremely useful. I have met with many colleagues across Ontario and Canada to discuss use of vape detectors, emphasizing that they are a piece in a multi-faceted approach that must be grounded in education.” She references the following report for more details.
By using vape detectors, like the one by Zeptive, schools can better enforce anti-vaping policies, raise awareness about the dangers of vaping, and offer early intervention and support for students.
By Linda Antinoro
Reviewed by Cindy Bistany, DHSc
References:
Lung Health Foundation (2023, September 22). What are an estimated 750,000 Canadian youth doing DAILY? Lung Health Foundation. Retrieved from https://lunghealth.ca/shocking-youth-vaping-stats/
Government of Canada (2023, September 19). Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey (CTNS): summary of results for 2022. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/canadian-tobacco-nicotine-survey/2022-summary.html
Government of Canada (2024, May 9). Vaping in Canada: What we know. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/smoking-tobacco/surveys-statistics-research/vaping-what-we-know.html
BackGrounder (2024, April 28.) Ontario Cracking Down on Cellphone Use and Banning Vaping in Schools. Retrieved from https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/1004500/ontario-cracking-down-on-cellphone-use-and-banning-vaping-in-schools
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