Are you concerned about vaping? Is there a person in your life at risk for increasing experimentation or having trouble stopping? Youth vaping and nicotine addiction can be a complex issue with many layers that require a closer look. This page features the latest information and evidence to help assist in preventing youth vaping, supporting those looking to stop, as well as sharing all the relevant resources and tools currently available.

NEED FURTHER ASSISTANCE?

Feel free to contact us for more information at 519-352-7270 or by email at CKSmokeFree@chatham-kent.ca 

What are they?

Vaping products are battery powered devices that heat up a liquid into an inhalable aerosol that can enter the user’s lungs.

"Tank" style devices tend to be larger and offer most customized features. Various e-liquids can be used and bought separately. This type of device tends to produce more vapour volumes and can be the most expensive type available.

"Pod" systems are smaller in size and come with specific pods that contain small amounts of liquid (1.5-3mL) that are swapped out when empty. Some of the best selling brands are pod based devices and come in a variety of shapes, sizes. strengths, colours and flavours.

"Disposable" vape devices are a more recent type of design that are gaining popularity as they do not often require charging like other  devices. They tend to be medium sized and increase in price depending on the advertised number of puffs increase in size. For instance, a "500 puff device" would contain less liquid and be lower in cost compared to a "5000 puff" device.

What's in them?

The liquid that is heated in vaping devices are often referred to as "e-liquids". There are a wide variety of "e-liquids" available in a number of formulas, flavours and concentrations. Here is a brief overview of some of the more popular options.

"Nicotine Types"

The type of nicotine formulation found in "e-liquids" can vary and are mainly available in three options: "freebase nicotine", "nicotine salt",  and "synthetic nicotine".

The most popular selling brands mostly contain "nicotine salt" formulas that are better absorbed by the body and often have more addictive potential as compared to older "freebase nicotine" liquids that aren't as absorbed as efficiently.

"Synthetic nicotine" devices are newer to market and are often found in disposable devices. They can be featured and advertised as being "stronger" then the listed concentration.

"Nicotine Concentrations"

Currently in Canada, there are limits on vape device nicotine concentrations. Devices are currently maximized at 20mg/mL of nicotine. Depending in the brand, some devices do offer lower concentrations but the vast majority are currently sold at the maximum amount.

To address the limits on nicotine concentration limits, some manufacturers have begun producing devices with increased volumes sizes that now are  products with more"total nicotine" amounts.

Cannabis

When looking at regular cannabis use, the vast majority of users prefer to use cannabis by smoking it. However, with the growth of vaping, there are now more options to vape cannabis oils with specific types of devices. (Some vape devices are sophisticated enough to vapourize raw leaf material as well.)

Due to the production process, this method of cannabis use is one of the more expensive delivery methods. The vaping of cannabis however, would  be a safer form of delivery when compared to smoking cannabis as there is no combustion  occurring.