Advocates call for increased efforts to curb youth vaping

Rob MacDonald is on a mission to prevent history from repeating itself, this time with youth vaping. As the president and CEO of Lung N.S./P.E.I., he is urging the Nova Scotia government to take a more active role in addressing the alarming rates of youth vaping and preventing young people from getting addicted to these harmful products.

In a recent interview, MacDonald expressed his concerns about the parallels between the current youth vaping epidemic and the tobacco crisis of 50 years ago. He emphasized the urgent need for enhanced efforts to combat youth vaping and protect the health of Nova Scotia’s young population.

Joining him in this advocacy is Rob Cunningham, a senior policy analyst with the Canadian Cancer Society. Cunningham echoed MacDonald’s sentiments, calling for a comprehensive government approach that includes increased enforcement, as well as more cessation and prevention programs. He highlighted the opportunity for the government to allocate some of the funds from a recent settlement with tobacco companies towards these initiatives, emphasizing the potential benefits for public health and healthcare costs.

The latest data from the 2021-22 Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs survey revealed that 39% of Nova Scotia students in grades 10-12 reported vaping, well above the national average of 24%. While the national average has shown a slight decrease, there has been an increase in vaping rates among Grade 12 students. MacDonald emphasized that conversations with school officials indicate even higher numbers than those reported in the survey, prompting urgent action to address the vaping epidemic in schools.

Cunningham and MacDonald are also advocating for raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco and vape products to 21, as well as restricting the sale of vape products to specialty shops. They pointed to the success of similar measures in other provinces and U.S. states, emphasizing the need for Nova Scotia to follow suit in order to protect its youth from the dangers of vaping.

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, emphasized the risks associated with youth vaping, including the potential for young vapers to transition to smoking and the emergence of vaping-specific lung damage. He stressed the need for more attention to be given to this issue, dispelling the myth that vaping is safe.

In response to these concerns, Health Minister Michelle Thompson stated that the government is actively reviewing research on increasing the legal age to purchase tobacco and vaping products. She also highlighted ongoing anti-vaping campaigns on social media platforms and pledged to continue addressing the issue through all available avenues. However, the statement did not address calls to allocate tobacco settlement funds specifically towards combating youth vaping rates.

As the fight against youth vaping continues, advocates like MacDonald, Cunningham, and Dr. Strang are urging the Nova Scotia government to prioritize the health and well-being of its young population by taking decisive action to address the growing epidemic of vaping among youth.