Teenagers and young adults use of vaping products on the rise: WDG Public Health
Posted Dec 15, 2023 02:24:54 PM.
Last Updated Dec 15, 2023 02:30:45 PM.
Public Health officials in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (WDG) are warning of a rise in vaping among teenagers and young adults.
A report to the WDG Board of Health showed 100 per cent of schools that were inspected found issues with students vaping on school properties. One main area were bathrooms, which can be hard to manage.
This has led to the development of an online reporting tool for administrators and increasing the level of enforcement officers in schools. Administrators can report tobacco, cannabis, vape use and selling on school property.
Officials cite the easy accessibility of vaping products as a driver for the rise in vaping. The number of vaping retailers in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph has doubled since 2018, rising from below 100 to just over 200.
Youth Test Shopping (YTS) conducted by public health between January and August found that 30 per cent of interactions lead to a sale to a minor. Public health notes the lack of YTS during the pandemic has contributed to the increase in sales to minors.
Current legislation under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 states it is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 19
