The Algoma Public Health (APH) board of directors, at their regular monthly meeting held early Wednesday evening, approved a resolution to forward the organization’s formal, written concern to the Ontario government over sales to adolescents of electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes) in the province.
The letter will be forwarded to the Ontario Minister of Health and to MPPs (including Sault MPP Ross Romano), recommending the province retain sections of Ontario’s Smoke-Free Ontario Act to prohibit the display and promotion of vapour products in stores which would encourage the purchase and use of e-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes are used by heating a liquid to generate a ‘vapor,’ that the user inhales, hence the common term ‘vaping.’
Vapers vape to cut down or quit smoking in the belief vaping is healthier than cigarette smoking.
Not so, say health experts, stating even though e-cigarettes produce less chemicals, including nicotine, than regular tobacco smokes, vaping can cause impaired brain development in teens.
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 was paused before it came into force July 1, 2018 while the provincial government reviews provisions in regard to vaping.
APH states:
- Nicotine can legally be present in vaping products in Canada as of May, 2018.
- Accidental exposure to e-liquids by drinking or skin or eye contact can lead to serious health problems
- Long-term exposure to e-cigarette vapour is also harmful due to other chemicals within it, such as formaldehyde
- 14.7 per cent of Ontario high school students in the North East and North West LHIN areas report using e-cigarettes in the past year, despite the fact it is illegal to sell or supply e-cigarettes to anyone under 19, an unhealthy trend considering APH states Algoma’s smoking rate is almost twice as high as Ontario’s (29.6 per cent compared to 15.5 per cent), and Algoma youth aged 12 to 19 are not as likely to abstain from from smoking as compared to youth province-wide (73.6 per cent to 89.7 per cent).
- E-cigarette use among youth and young adults may increase their risk of using tobacco cigarettes
Meanwhile, Adrienne Kappes, APH board member, continuing on the topic of harmful smoke and vapour, referring to the impending legalization of marijuana by the federal government Oct. 17, said “kids are going to be given (easier) access to marijuana.”
“They’ve (the federal government) just opened the doors,” lamented board member Dr. Patricia Avery.
“I’ve got to shake my head. How many years have we promoted the smoking cessation program and you’ll see everybody on the street corner will be smoking joints.”
“I think we have to go back to our mandate and be very, very vocal about these issues (through public education campaigns by APH),” Avery said.
“Our goal is to get the information and the (health risk) message out, and the enforcement part is for the police to enforce as to driving under the influence, and being under the influence of any substance, and they can be charged,” said Dr. Marlene Spruyt, APH medical officer of health and CEO.
