Vaping refers to the use of electronic devices to inhale an aerosol that typically contains nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals. Although vaping has been marketed as a less harmful alternative to smoking, it carries significant health risks, including nicotine addiction, respiratory issues, and other long-term health effects. Youth are disproportionately affected by these health risks.
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According to the Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey (2021-22), 20% of PEI students and 23% of Nova Scotia students have vaped in the past 30 days, while the national average is 16.8%. As vape rates vary widely by grade, a breakdown of PEI vape rates per grade is available in the COMPASS survey (2023-24) (page 18).
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As vaping rates continue to grow, especially among youth, promoting informed and evidence-based decision-making is crucial. Below, you can find information on what LungNSPEI is doing to support vaping prevention, such as our Youth Vaping Awareness Days program and other resources.
Vaping
Join our Youth Coalition for Vaping Policy Advocacy!
LungNSPEI is excited to launch a Youth Coalition focused on making changes to vaping policies on PEI. This group will include 8-12 youth aged 16-24 from diverse communities across PEI. They will work together to address vaping issues affecting youth and to try to enact real change.
Vaping among youth is a growing health concern. This initiative gives young people a chance to speak up and influence policies that impact their lives. Coalition members will discuss key points on vaping, develop leadership skills, and guide advocacy efforts. A staff coordinator will help organize meetings, events, and projects.
By bringing together passionate young voices, we hope to create policies that protect the health and future of our communities. Together, we can make a difference.
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To learn more and join the coalition, please contact Jennifer O'Brien, Youth Vaping Coalition Coordinator at jenniferobrien@lungnspei.ca
Vaping prevention & Quitting Resources
Vaping has become increasingly prevalent among youth in recent years. We have resources for families, coaches and teachers to help address and prevent youth vaping.
Youth Vaping Awareness Days Program
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Our Youth Vaping Awareness Days program aims to increase knowledge and awareness around the risks of vaping, encouraging youth to make informed choices when it comes to vaping products. Program materials includes educational videos, fact sheets for students, teachers, and parents, and various games to test knowledge.
​Engaging Youth Stakeholders in Youth Vaping/Smoking Harm Reduction Project Report
Exploring Youth Vaping/Smoking Prevention and Cessation in PEI
The project aimed to strengthen advocacy for policy change by fostering partnerships to address toxic stress from nicotine addiction in youth. It brought together community stakeholders to identify gaps and opportunities in PEI’s nicotine prevention and cessation services for youth (ages 11-21), while raising awareness of factors that support a nicotine-free lifestyle and reduce addiction-related stress.
A study aimed to increase knowledge of the gaps and opportunities in PEI nicotine prevention and cessation programs/services for youth (aged 11-21) and increase awareness of the factors that help youth in PEI live a nicotine-free lifestyle and mitigate the toxic stress caused by nicotine addiction.
2024 Youth & Young Adult Vaping Project
The 2024 Youth and Young Adult Vaping Survey updates and expands on the 2019 survey by collecting new data on vaping and tobacco product use among young people in Nova Scotia. It also looks at the impact of provincial vaping laws and highlights areas that need more focus.
Youth & Young Adult Vaping Project
In partnership with Heart & Stroke, we surveyed youth across Canada to better understand vaping behaviour, experiences, and product preferences among regular e-cigarette users between the ages of 16 and 24, in order to help develop policy to help prevent youth vaping.