Smoking and Vaping

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

The prevalence of students using tobacco products has been declining. Unfortunately, the introduction of vaping products has seen a rise in teens vaping.

Across Ontario, 4.1% of grade 7 to 12 students reported smoking tobacco cigarettes, (OSDUHS, 2021). In this study, 15.3% of students in grades 7 to 12 report vaping at least once in the past year, while 11.5% reported vaping in the past month. Over one quarter (26.4%) of students have tried vaping in their lifetime, and among those who vaped, 84% report vaping nicotine, about 10% did not vape nicotine, and almost 6% did not know if their vape contained nicotine. Among the grades, students in grade 11 and 12 are most likely to use vapour products (OSDUHS, 2021).

In Windsor-Essex, 4% of grade 9 to 12 students are current smokers, and 15% of students have used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days. Females (17%) are more likely to vape than males (12%) (COMPASS, 2022).

Using the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School framework, schools, school boards, parents and community partners can work together to develop healthy school environments that promote and support student well-being.

Smoking and vaping resources and supports are organized below following this framework.


Resources & Information for:

Resources

  • WECHU- Vaping Toolkit: an overview of vaping resources organized in the foundations for a healthy framework. Available in English and French.
  • WECHU-Vaping Backgrounder: an overview of vaping that provides educators with information they need to prepare for a lesson on vaping.
  • Vaping – What Elementary Educators Need to Know (CAMH and SMHO) (French version) (Grades 1-8) – A fact sheet provides general information about vaping and outlines important facts, associated risks, and additional resources to support educators in having informed conversations with students.
  • Vaping – What Secondary Educators Need to Know (CAMH and SMHO) (French version) (Grades 9-12) – A fact sheet provides general information about vaping and outlines important facts, associated risks, and additional resources to support educators in having informed conversations with students.

Lessons and Activities

Contact your school’s Public Health Nurse or the Healthy School’s Department to book, or for more information on, these resources. Healthy School hotline: (519) 258-2146, ext. 1555.

  • WECHU- Substance Use- Interactive Jenga Trivia Game: Students remove the blocks and answer questions about substance use. Have students play 1:1 or in teams to earn points.
  • WECHU-Cigarette Chemical Roll-Out Display: This resource is an oversized cigarette that features a roll-out list of the chemical ingredients. It can be used to demonstrate the large quantity of dangerous chemicals in each cigarette.

Local Support and Resources

  • WECHU- How to Talk to Your Child About Vaping - A Resource for Parents/Caregivers: Resource that educates parents/caregivers about why kids vape, tips for talking to kids about vaping, and where to get help.
  • Where to Get Help with Tobacco and Vaping in Windsor-Essex County
  • Mental Health and Addiction Nurse: 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468- Students can call to talk about alcohol, cannabis, opioids, or other substances. A school, hospital, or community agency can also refer online or by calling the number above.
  • WEConnectKids: a partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor/Essex.
  • Youth Wellness Hub – 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 and Leamington locations.
  • SAPACCY Program- The Substance Abuse Program for African, Caribbean, and Black Canadian Youth: 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.

Additional Support and Resources

  • Government of Canada- About vaping: A website with vaping information, tips for parents, videos, and more.
  • Drug Free Kids- Youth and Vaping- a growing trend: Information for parents/caregivers about vaping trends. Includes a link to the Youth and Vaping Guide (PDF) to help start the conversation with your child about vaping.
  • Drug Free Canada- Parent Support Hub: 24/7 access to support from Drug Free Kids Canada to help you prevent/address/overcome a young persons problematic substance use by phone or online chat.
  • Talking with Your Teen about Vaping - Caring for kids, Canadian Pediatric Society
  • Kids Help Phone at 1 800 668-6868. 24 hours/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth. *Services in English and French.
  • ConnexOntario – 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. 
  • Health811: Call 8-1-1 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007), a free, secure, confidential service Ontarians can call or access online 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive health advice from qualified health professionals, such as registered nurses, locate local health services. Can access resources or chat live online.
  • Quash App: a mobile app that offers support for youth to quit vaping and smoking.
  • Smokers' Helpline: a web and text messaging app offering smoking support to quit for those 18 and over.
  • OPHEA Healthy Schools Certification- (French Version). 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 at 519-258-2146 x 1555 for more information on how they can support your school in achieving a Healthy Schools Certification.

Smoke- Free Ontario Act (SFOA), 2017

The SFOA, 2017. regulates the sale, supply, display and promotion of tobacco products 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 or complete the SFOA, 2017 signage order form.

School Complaints

  • The SFOA is enforced locally by the Tobacco and Vaping Enforcement Officers (TVEOs). If you have questions, contact the TVEO assigned to your school at ext. 3100 or submit a complaint online.
  • Local municipalities have by-laws in place offering further protections.

School Board Policies

School boards can set policy 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.

Local Support and Resources

  • WECHU- How to Talk to Your Child About Vaping - A Resource for Parents/Caregivers: Resource that educates parents/caregivers about why kids vape, tips for talking to kids about vaping, and where to get help.
  • Where to Get Help with Tobacco and Vaping in Windsor-Essex County
  • Mental Health and Addiction Nurse: 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468- Students can call to talk about alcohol, cannabis, opioids, or other substances. A school, hospital, or community agency can also refer online or by calling the number above.
  • WEConnectKids: a partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor/Essex.
  • Youth Wellness Hub – 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 and Leamington locations.
  • SAPACCY Program- The Substance Abuse Program for African, Caribbean, and Black Canadian Youth: 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.

Additional Support and Resources

  • Government of Canada- About vaping: A website with vaping information, tips for parents, videos, and more.
  • Drug Free Kids- Youth and Vaping- a growing trend: Information for parents/caregivers about vaping trends. Includes a link to the Youth and Vaping Guide (PDF) to help start the conversation with your child about vaping.
  • Drug Free Canada- Parent Support Hub: 24/7 access to support from Drug Free Kids Canada to help you prevent/address/overcome a young persons problematic substance use by phone or online chat.
  • Talking with Your Teen about Vaping - Caring for kids, Canadian Pediatric Society
  • Kids Help Phone at 1 800 668-6868. 24 hours/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth. *Services in English and French.
  • ConnexOntario – 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. 
  • Health811: Call 8-1-1 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007), a free, secure, confidential service Ontarians can call or access online 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive health advice from qualified health professionals, such as registered nurses, locate local health services. Can access resources or chat live online.
  • Quash App: a mobile app that offers support for youth to quit vaping and smoking.
  • Smokers' Helpline: a web and text messaging app offering smoking support to quit for those 18 and over.

Local Support and Resources

  • WECHU- How to Talk to Your Child About Vaping - A Resource for Parents/Caregivers: Resource that educates parents/caregivers about why kids vape, tips for talking to kids about vaping, and where to get help.
  • Where to Get Help with Tobacco and Vaping in Windsor-Essex County
  • Mental Health and Addiction Nurse: 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468- Students can call to talk about alcohol, cannabis, opioids, or other substances. A school, hospital, or community agency can also refer online or by calling the number above.
  • WEConnectKids: a partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor/Essex.
  • Youth Wellness Hub – 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 and Leamington locations.
  • SAPACCY Program- The Substance Abuse Program for African, Caribbean, and Black Canadian Youth: 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.

Additional Support and Resources

  • Government of Canada- About vaping: A website with vaping information, tips for parents, videos, and more.
  • Drug Free Kids- Youth and Vaping- a growing trend: Information for parents/caregivers about vaping trends. Includes a link to the Youth and Vaping Guide (PDF) to help start the conversation with your child about vaping.
  • Drug Free Canada- Parent Support Hub: 24/7 access to support from Drug Free Kids Canada to help you prevent/address/overcome a young persons problematic substance use by phone or online chat.
  • Talking with Your Teen about Vaping - Caring for kids, Canadian Pediatric Society
  • Kids Help Phone at 1 800 668-6868. 24 hours/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth. *Services in English and French.
  • ConnexOntario – 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. 
  • Health811: Call 8-1-1 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007), a free, secure, confidential service Ontarians can call or access online 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive health advice from qualified health professionals, such as registered nurses, locate local health services. Can access resources or chat live online.
  • Quash App: a mobile app that offers support for youth to quit vaping and smoking.
  • Smokers' Helpline: a web and text messaging app offering smoking support to quit for those 18 and over.