1. School Health
  2. Substance Use
  3. Smoking and Vaping

Smoking and Vaping

Educating youth about substance use is important to help them develop the skills and knowledge to make healthier choices.

While the number of youth who use tobacco products has declined over the past four decades, more youth are now vaping. In Windsor-Essex, 0.6 % of grade 7 to 12 students reported smoking tobacco cigarettes (more than one cigarette but not daily), whereas 5.6% of students in grade 7 to 12 report vaping daily in the past year (WECHU, 2024). 

What is vaping?

Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling an aerosol (fine mist) produced by a vaping device, such as an electronic cigarette or a vape. The device heats a liquid into an aerosol which is inhaled into the lungs.  While vaping does not require burning like cigarette smoking, all forms of tobacco or vape products can cause negative short- and long-term health effects (Health Canada, 2024).

What do the stats say about youth and vaping?

Across Ontario, 3.2% of grade 7 to 12 students report smoking tobacco cigarettes over the past year. In contrast, 13.4% of students in grades 7 to 12 report vaping at least once in the past year, while 11% report vaping in the past month. The percentage of students significantly increases with grade, from 5% of 8th graders up to 21.8% of 12th graders reporting vaping in the past year (OSDUHS, 2023).

What should youth know about nicotine?

Among Ontario youth who vaped in the past year, 87% report vaping nicotine, 6.4% did not vape nicotine, and 6.2% did not know if their vape contained nicotine (OSDUHS, 2023).

Nicotine is the main addictive chemical in tobacco cigarettes and vapes, and it can also affect youth brain development.  The effects of nicotine withdrawal make it hard to quit, such as strong cravings, headache, trouble focusing, irritability or restlessness, or difficulty sleeping.  When you stop smoking or vaping, these effects can keep you wanting to smoke or vape more. 

Why Do Youth Vape?

Some reasons youth vape include:

  • Peer pressure
  • Curiosity
  • Boredom
  • Addiction to nicotine
  • Appealing flavors
  • Devices are seen as trendy, or a status symbol
  • Easy access from friends, family members
  • Social media exposure
  • It has become a normalized behaviour
  • To quit or cut down on smoking

What can schools, parents and youth do to learn about vaping?

A healthy school is created when schools, parents and community partners work together to build school environments that promote and support student well-being.  Below you will find several informational and community resources for educators, parents/caregivers, and students. Educator’s resources are organized using the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School framework. 

Resources & Information for:

Background Resources

  • Vaping- What Elementary Educators Need to Know – Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and School Mental Health Ontario (CAMH and SMHO)
    Grades 1-8. Available in French.
  • Vaping- What Secondary Educators Need to Know
    Grades 9-12. Available in French.
    A fact sheet with general information about vaping, associated risks, and additional resources to support educators in having informed conversations with students.
  • Brief Conversations Toolkit – Quash
    Grades 7-12
    This toolkit aims to help curb the youth vaping epidemic by increasing knowledge and application of Brief Contact Interventions (BCI) among those who work or engage with youth who smoke, vape or use other nicotine products. Available in French. 
  • VIBED- Vaping Information for Better-Educated Decisions- Health Canada
    Grades 7-12
    Vaping resources, activities and a self-facilitated presentation slide deck with script.  Available in French.

Lessons and Activities

  • Healthy Schools Certification – OPHEA
    Gives your school the tools to promote and enhance the health and well-being of students, school staff, and the broader school community. Contact your school nurse, call the Healthy Schools Hotline at 519-258-2146, ext. 1555 or email csh@wechu.org to find out more about supporting your school in achieving a Healthy Schools Certification.
  • Quash E-Module Facilitator Training – Lung Health Foundation
    An online, self-guided and free Quash E-Module Facilitator Training to deliver the Quash youth smoking and vaping cessation program to youth at the school. Suggested for a school health champion to complete. Available in French.  
  • Where to Get Help with Tobacco and Vaping in Windsor-Essex County – Windsor Essex County Health Unit
    A directory of local supports within Windsor Essex County to assist in the cessation of smoking, and vaping nicotine. 
  • Windsor-Essex Youth Services Card
    Provides contact information related to services and referral support in Windsor-Essex County for a variety of youth services.
  • Youth Wellness Hub – Canadian Mental Health Association
    For youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in mental health services, substance use and addiction services, access to a Nurse Practitioner for primary care, and community social services.  The Youth Wellness Hub also offers recreational activities and peer support. Services available in Windsor, Amherstburg and Leamington locations. Virtual mental health counselling and peer support available. 
  • SAPACCY Program- The Substance Abuse Program for African, Caribbean, and Black Canadian Youth Windsor Essex Community Health Centre
    Mental health and substance use services for individuals who identify as black and between 12-29 years of age. Call 519-253-8481 or visit wechc.org.
  • Mental Health and Addictions Nurse- Home and Community Care Support Services
    Mental Health and Addictions Nurses provide early intervention, psychoeducational support and therapeutic strategies that address specific mental health and addiction needs for youth. A school, hospital, or community agency can refer, and clients can self refer online or by calling 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468.
  • Smoke- Free Ontario Act (SFOA), 2017 – Government of Ontario
    The SFOA, 2017. regulates the sale, supply, display and promotion of tobacco and vapour products, as well as the smoking of tobacco, the use of e-cigarettes to vape any substance, and the smoking of cannabis. If your school requires signage, complete the SFOA, 2017 signage order form.

    Health Canada is introducing new measures for Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT) through a Ministerial Order to reduce the appeal of, access to, and use of these products by youth for recreational purposes, ensuring access is restricted to adults who use these products to help them quit smoking.  The Order introduces new measures that will:
     
    • Prohibit advertising or promotion, including labelling and packaging that could appeal to youth.
    • Requires NRT in new and emerging formats, such as nicotine pouches, to be sold only by a pharmacist or an individual working under the supervision of a pharmacist, and to be kept behind the pharmacy counter.
    • Prohibits NRTs in new and emerging formats, such as nicotine pouches, from being sold with flavours other than mint or menthol.
    • Require a front of package nicotine addiction warning, as well as clear indication of the intended use as a smoking cessation aid for adults trying to quit smoking.
    • Require manufacturers to submit mock-ups of labels and packages for all new or amended NRT licenses to ensure no youth appeal.
  • School Complaints
    The SFOA, 2017 is enforced locally by the Tobacco and Vaping Enforcement Officers (TVEOs). If you have questions, contact the TVEO assigned to your school at 519-258-2145,  ext. 3100 or submit a complaint online.  Local municipalities have by-laws in place offering further protections.
  • School Board Policies
    School boards can set policies that influence the social & environmental norms students experience. Please refer to your specific school board and/or school’s policies and code of conduct on tobacco, vaping, and substance use for further information. Individual schools should speak to their school boards about whether they can develop individual school policies.
  • PPM 128 – Ministry of Education
    Policy/Program Memorandum 128 (PPM 128) strengthens the Provincial Code of Conduct’s restrictions on the use of personal mobile devices in schools and prohibits the possession and use of vaping/smoking products on/near school property.

Support in the Community

  • Windsor-Essex Youth Services Card
    Provides contact information related to services and referral support in Windsor-Essex County for a variety of youth services.
  • Where to Get Help with Tobacco and Vaping in Windsor-Essex County – The WECHU
    A directory of local supports within Windsor Essex County to assist in the cessation of smoking, and vaping nicotine.
  • WEConnectKids – HDGH Regional Children’s Centre
    A partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor-Essex.  Servicing youth up to age 18. 
  • ConnexOntario – Government of Ontario
    Mental health, addiction, and problem gambling services.  Call 1-866-531-2600, email, chat or search for services in your community. ConnexOntario can also provide basic education about mental health, drug, alcohol, and problem gambling treatment services. 

Additional Resources and Support

  • Youth Wellness Hub – Canadian Mental Health Association
    For youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in mental health services, substance use and addiction services, access to a Nurse Practitioner for primary care, and community social services.  The Youth Wellness Hub also offers recreational activities and peer support. Services available in Windsor, Amherstburg and Leamington locations. Virtual mental health counselling and peer support available. 
  • Windsor-Essex Youth Services Card
    Provides contact information related to services and referral support in Windsor-Essex County for a variety of youth services.
  • Where to Get Help with Tobacco and Vaping in Windsor-Essex County – The WECHU
    A directory of local supports within Windsor Essex County to assist in the cessation of smoking, and vaping nicotine. 
  • SAPACCY Program- The Substance Abuse Program for African, Caribbean, and Black Canadian Youth Windsor Essex Community Health Centre
    Mental health and substance use services for individuals who identify as black and between 12-29 years of age. Call 519-253-8481 or visit wechc.org.
  • Quash App – Lung Health Foundation
    A judgment-free app to help youth quit vaping or smoking the way they want! Build a custom plan for quitting, join groups and get support from others.  
  • Crush the Crave – Health Canada
    An evidence-based smoking cessation app designed to meet the needs of young smokers.  Utilizes a customized quit plan, tracking, and access to services such as quit lines. 
  • Stop Vaping Challenge – University of Toronto and Health Canada
    An app that provides a space for youth to reflect on their vaping behaviours through an “abstinence challenge”. 
  • Mental Health and Addictions Nurse- Home and Community Care Support Services
    Mental Health and Addictions Nurses provide early intervention, psychoeducational support and therapeutic strategies that address specific mental health and addiction needs for youth. A school, hospital, community agency, or self refer online or by calling 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468.
  • One Stop Talk
    A free service that immediately connects youth aged 17 and under to a professional therapist in which they will develop a plan together to move forward and feel better. Call 1-855-416-8255 or connect via online chat.