Your HealthTobacco & Vaping

Tobacco & Vaping Facts

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Ontario. Each year in Ontario, smoking causes approximately:

16,673

deaths

These make up 17% of deaths from all causes in people aged 35 and older

68,046

hospitalizations

These make up 8.7% of hospitalizations from all causes in people aged 35 and older

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125,384

emergency department visits

These make up 3.4% of emergency department visits from all causes in people aged 35 and older

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These make up 17% of deaths, 8.7% of hospitalizations and 3.4% of emergency department visits from all causes in people aged 35 and older. (Ontario Health and Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). Burden of Health Conditions Attributable to Smoking and Alcohol by Public Health Unit in Ontario. Toronto: King’s Printer for Ontario; 2023.

Here in Chatham-Kent, this means that smoking is the cause of 220 deaths, 766 hospitalizations, and 1723 emergency room visits for those aged 35+ every year. If no one in Chatham-Kent smoked cigarettes we could prevent over 200 premature deaths every year (Public Health Ontario, 2023).

Tobacco

Man is holding black cigarette pack in hand

What is Nicotine?

Tobacco products contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance. Nicotine can be used in a variety of methods including: smoking (cigarettes, cigars), orally (chewing tobacco, pouches), vaping of e-cigarette devices, and by mixing cannabis and tobacco. Nicotine is sourced from natural plants, with newer and emerging products now containing synthetic or lab created nicotine.

Traditional Tobacco

Traditional tobacco is very different from commercial tobacco. Traditional tobacco has been used by Indigenous Peoples for thousands of years as a sacred medicine. Traditional tobacco is an important part of culture and spiritual connectedness. It is often used in ritual, ceremony, and prayer. When we speak about tobacco use, we are referring to commercial tobacco use and not traditional tobacco.

Vaping

vape banner, electronic cigarettes for smoking on a white background

What is Vaping?

Vaping products are electronic devices that heat a liquid solution and produce an aerosol. Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling an aerosol from a vaping product. The vapour is an aerosol and not water. Vaping products come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Vaping liquids may also be called e-liquid or e-fluid. Vaping liquids contain a variety of chemicals and can contain artificial flavourings. Most vaping products also contain nicotine. The amount of nicotine varies between vaping products. Vaping products deliver nicotine effectively, making them very addictive. Health Canada limits the concentration of nicotine in vaping devices at 20 milligrams per milliliter. For example, a 5 ml sized vape device would contain about 100 cigarettes worth of nicotine.

Myths & Facts

Myth 1: Vaping Isn't Bad for You

Fact: Vaping is not harmless. Vaping products produce an aerosol that contains many toxic chemicals. Vaping products that contain nicotine can create nicotine addiction. Nicotine can harm brain development and affect memory and concentration. Vaping devices have resulted in burns and injuries to some users. The long-term health consequences of vaping are still not fully known.

Myth 2: Vaping is Better than Smoking

Fact: Compared to cigarettes, vaping products do reduce a person's exposure to toxic and cancer-causing chemicals. If all tobacco users switched to vaping this would be a good harm reduction strategy. However, for youth who have never used tobacco, introducing nicotine by vaping is not considered harm reduction and does have risk. If you don't smoke, don't vape. Vaping is not safe for youth.

Myth 4: All Flavours of Vaping Liquid are the Same

Fact: Some vaping liquid flavours have been shown to be more toxic than others. Flavours including menthol, cinnamon, and other sweet flavours such as strawberry and cherry contain chemicals that may be more harmful than other flavours. Flavouring chemicals used in food may be considered safe to eat, but this does not mean that they are safe to inhale.

Preventing Smoking & Vaping

We are committed to:

Preventing people from starting to smoke or vape
Preventing the escalation of nicotine addiction by promoting available supports
Protecting our public places from second-hand smoke exposure and tobacco and vaping associated litter

One of our priorities is preventing nicotine use among youth. Over the past two decades, youth smoking in our community has decreased as the harms from tobacco use have become well know. However, vaping has become a health and behavioural concern. The popularity of vaping is concerning because of its dangerous health effects. In addition, nicotine addiction from vaping is associated with future tobacco use.

We offer a number of programs and services designed to prevent youth tobacco and vaping use. For more information about our services, contact us at cksmokefree@chatham-kent.ca

Services

Smoke Free Ontario Act (SFOA) Diversion Program

Students found smoking or vaping on school property in violation of the Smoke Free Ontario Act (2017) can choose to participate in a CK Public Health education session instead of receiving a fine. To qualify for the program, students must be referred by school administration to the Tobacco Enforcement Officer. This is a brief intervention designed to offer guidance and referrals for students needing support.

Workshops

Harm Reduction Approaches to Substance Use

This workshop is designed for high school and college aged students around the topics of tobacco, vaping, cannabis and alcohol use. This workshop is delivered in partnership with schools and community groups and meets requirements set out in the 'Ontario Health and Physical Education' curriculum. Workshop participants will learn:
- Effective harm reduction approaches to a variety of substances
- Current substance use trends
- The impacts that substances have on mental health
- Opportunities to explore behaviour change strategies to inspire healthy living

Youth Vaping and Substance Use Prevention

This workshop is designed for middle school students to learn about tobacco, vaping, cannabis and alcohol use. This workshop is delivered in partnership with schools and community groups while meeting requirements set out in the 'Ontario Health and Physical Education' curriculum. Students will learn:

The health impacts of substance use
How tobacco, nicotine, and alcohol industry marketing practices target youth and other at-risk groups to influence use
Refusal skills to assist them in navigating the social influences related to substance use

Resources

Resources for Parents

Tips for Talking to Your Kids about Vaping: Parents play a big role in helping kids make decisions about their health. This guide provides information and tips about speaking to kids about vaping for parents.

Resources for Youth

Not An Experiment: Try out an interactive online game to learn more about vaping at notanexperiment.ca. In addition to the game, teachers can find classroom resources, posters as well as an online quit plan for those looking to reduce their vaping as well as updated information on the link between vaping and youth mental health.

Kids Help Phone: Canada's only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, multilingual and confidential support to help all young people feel out loud. Visit kidshelpphone.ca or call 1-800-668-8686.

Chatham-Kent Youth Wellness Hub: Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) is a service delivery platform designed to support youth aged 12 to 25 and their families with the right services at the right time and in the right place. Located at 140 King St W, Chatham ON N7M 1E2. Call 519-437-6329 or email ck@youthhubs.ca

Quitting Smoking or Vaping

To learn more about resources available for quitting smoking or vaping please visit the QUIT page or Don't Quit Quitting.

Health Care Providers

Are you a health care provider in Chatham-Kent? Consider joining our Tobacco Cessation Community of Practice to connect and learn about services and supports that are available to assist your clients. Members participate in two meetings per year and receive monthly updates. Join today by email: cksmokefree@chatham-kent.ca

Protection from Second-Hand Smoke

Smoke Free Ontario Act (SMFO)

The Smoke Free Ontario Act (2019) protects non-smokers by making all public places and enclosed workplaces smoke-free. This includes tobacco, vaping and the smoking/vaping of cannabis products. Recent updates to the SFOA also ban smoking on patios, sporting fields, and playgrounds. For more specific information about the laws surrounding smoking in public places please review the location specific fact sheets in the resource section below.

Smoke Free Chatham-Kent By-Law 137-2014

Chatham-Kent regulates smoking of tobacco or tobacco-like products on lands within the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. For more information, please visit: Smoke Free CK By-Law.

Order Smoke Free Ontario Signs

Do you need smoke-free signs for your business or facility? There are a variety of options available depending on your location. To request signs, fill out an order form.

Smoke-Free Housing

If you live in an apartment or multi-unit housing and are affected by second-hand smoke exposure (tobacco or cannabis smoke) there are some options available. We recommend that you read the Second-Hand Smoke in Multi-Unity Housing Guide from Smoke Free Housing Ontario.

Other resources to support you in solving the issue of second hand smoke are available:

If you have a complain or question about smoking or vaping at your workplace, send us an Anonymous Request.

Contact cksmokefree@chatham-kent.ca or 519-352-7370 if you need help understanding your options.