GUELPH – Youth vaping is on the rise in Wellington County.
That’s according to Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH), which is hosting a virtual youth vaping information session for parents on Jan. 24 from 7 to 8pm.
Associate medical health officer Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum will share insights about the impact of vaping on youth and answer any questions.
He will discuss the health impacts of vaping and provide practical tips on how to talk to youth about it.
Youth vaping stats
Data from a 2022 WDGPH survey shows, in 2022:
- 15 per cent of students in Grade 7 and up reported using an e-cigarette in the past year;
- more senior students reported using e-cigarettes in the past year (22.4%) compared to intermediate students (4.5%);
- reported e-cigarette use was highest for non-binary students in Grade 9 and up (26%) compared to students with binary genders; and
- female students in Grade 9 and up reported higher e-cigarette use in the past year (24.8%) compared to male students in Grade 9 and up (19%).
Canada-wide data from the 2020 Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey shows: 50% of youth aged 15 to 19 reported using social sources to obtain vaping products over the past 30 days.
The survey also shows reducing stress was the most common reason youth ages 15 to 19 reported vaping (33%); followed by because they enjoyed it (28%) and wanted to try it (24%).
Information session
The virtual information session is intended for parents and caregivers who want to learn more about youth vaping.
However, anyone of all ages from the Wellington, Dufferin and Guelph communities are invited to attend. To register, visit eventbrite.com.
Attendees submit questions for Tenenbaum at the link above.
He will work through each question during the event. If all questions cannot be answered in time, answers to remaining questions will be posted at wdgpublichealth.ca/vaping.
A recording of the event and a summary of answers to questions will be available afterward at the same link.
Public health nurses are also available (Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm) to answer questions about youth vaping at 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006 and clientcommunitysupport@wdgpublichealth.ca.
