The students presented ways we can all work together to reduce the rates of youth smoking and vaping.

It is believed that those who use e-cigarettes with nicotine are extremely likely to become addicted, increasing their chances of developing an addiction to smoking.

Initially, vaping was created to help adults who were trying to quit smoking, but with all the gadgets and flavours, it has become an item that is more appealing to the youth.

We worked so hard to get rid of tobacco, and this epidemic of smoking has come back in a different form – with the same risks.

Results from the Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs survey showed that in 2016 to 2017 (Quebec) 15% of students in Grades 10 to 12 had vaped in the last 30 days.

This means numbers have increased from 9% since 2014-2015. This is an overall increase of 64%, and a 30% increase per year.

Vaping companies are even using the same marketing plots as tobacco companies. Most of you will remember the ad with the young woman smoking a long cigarette, making it look cool and sophisticated. Vaping companies have adopted that same idea, but have swapped out a cigarette with a vaping tool.

I’m hoping this will trigger parents to sit and speak with their kids about the dangers of vaping, the same way we discussed smoking.

This is not ‘cool,’ this is just as addictive as tobacco was to our youth.

To learn more about vaping, please visit: https://www.cancer.ca/…/media-…/national/2019/youth-vaping/…

Photo/Graphic Credit(s): Canadian Cancer Society – Nova Scotia, Canadian Cancer Society