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Smoking and Vaping

Vaping and E-cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes are commonly called vapes, e-cigs, mods, or pens. They come in many styles, from box-like shapes to small flat USB-like sticks. No matter their appearance, they all have the same basic parts: a mouthpiece, a heating element, a tank or pod to hold e-liquid, and a battery. E-cigarettes work by heating an e-liquid until it turns into an aerosol.

The aerosol is not harmless water vapour (as the industry would have you believe) but a mixture of particles and chemicals. Once inhaled, these particles and chemicals enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body, including the brain.

E-liquid contains propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), chemical flavourings, and nicotine. Propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and chemical flavourings are considered safe to eat, but this does not mean they are safe to inhale. When heated, PG and VG can produce chemicals like formaldehyde, which is known to cause cancer.

Nicotine, the same highly addictive drug found in cigarettes and other commercial tobacco products is also added to e-liquid. However, some e-cigarettes manufacturers are using new methods to turn nicotine into a salt. This allows more nicotine to be added to e-liquid compared to cigarettes. Nicotine salt is also more easily absorbed by the body and less harsh for the user. This combination makes these products very addictive and the consequences, especially for youth, can be more serious.

There are laws that limit the amount of nicotine in e-liquids that can be legally sold in Canada. However, high level nicotine products still make their way into the country in ways such as online sales. 

E-cigarettes are often marketed as a safer alternative to cigarettes. However, for people who do not smoke, vaping is not a safe or healthy addiction to start.

It is now known that vaping has long-term health effects, including damage to the heart and lungs.

Vaping can also increase the risk of a heart attack and using both cigarettes and e-cigarettes increases the risk even more. Particles in e-cigarette aerosol can also worsen existing lung conditions and cause ear, eye, and throat irritation.

The propylene glycol in e-liquid absorbs moisture, including saliva in the mouth. The lack of moisture causes dry mouth, which in turn causes tooth decay and severe gum infections.

For more information on the health effects of vaping, visit NotAnExperiment.ca. 

Many teens and young adults understand the dangers of smoking and among youth, smoking is at an all-time low. However, despite this, vapour products (like e-cigarettes) are still addicting young people to nicotine. 

Rates of past year vaping among Ontario youth increase with grade, from 5.0% of students in grade 8 to 21.8% of students in grade 12. Youth in grades 10-12, as well as those that identify as female, are more likely to report vaping in the past year.

Many young people do not know that using vaping products has health risks and increases the chances that they will begin smoking cigarettes, use other drugs, and make feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression worse.

More information about how you can help prevent the young people in your lives from becoming addicted to nicotine through vaping or support them to quit, can be found here. 
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