What is vaping?
Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling vapour through the mouth.
These vapours are produced by vaping devices such as electronic nicotine
delivery systems (ENDS), electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), modified
devices (MODs), or vapes. In general, vaping devices such as
e-cigarettes consist of a mouthpiece, a cartridge containing the
“e-liquid” or “e-juice,” a heating element, and a battery. The e-liquid,
made up of propylene glycol, glycerin, flavours, and nicotine (usually),
vaporizes upon heating and then condenses into an aerosol, which is then
inhaled orally by the user.
Vaping in Canada
According to the
2022 Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey (CTNS)
18.2% of Canadians aged 15 and older (approximately 5.8 million people)
had ever vaped. Youth and young adults aged 15 to 24 were more likely to
have tried vaping than adults aged 25 and older.
Data from the
2024 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY)
shows that vaping among youth aged 12 to 17 has declined significantly,
dropping from 13.2% in 2019 to 5.8% in 2024.
The 2022 CTNS also found that the most common reason for vaping differed
by age group:
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among 15- to 24‑year‑olds, the leading reason was stress reduction,
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while among adults 25 and older, the primary reason was smoking
cessation.
Is vaping safe?
Although research is ongoing, vaping devices pose some concerns. Vaping
can increase the risk for:
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oral health issues, including dry mouth, saliva thickening, dental
cavities, bad breath, and gum disease
-
nicotine addiction that can raise your heart rate and blood pressure
and may make it harder for youth to manage their emotions and focus
- burn injuries from exploding battery-powered vaping devices
-
lung and heart diseases caused by inhaling toxic chemicals in vaping
liquid
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cancer due to the chemicals in the vape liquid and the vaping device