Canadian Youth E-Cigarette Use on the Rise, Poses Concerns

According to Statistics Canada, the prevalence of e-cigarette use among youth is significantly higher than among adults, and is increasing with the possibility of some youth developing a smoking habit.

Since the 1960s, the popularity of cigarettes has steadily declined, with about half of the population developing the habit at that time due to high taxes, advertising bans and a decrease in public places allowing smoking.

Meanwhile, in 2021, approximately 12% of young people aged 15 to 19 and 17% of those aged 20 to 24 reported using electronic cigarettes in the past month, according to the Bureau of Statistics. In contrast, only 4% of adults aged 25 and over reported the same.

Overall, as of 2021, 10% of Canadians report smoking frequently. Smoking rates have remained stable compared to the previous year for all age groups. According to StatsCan, young people are more likely to use e-cigarettes if they work, drink, or engage in negative behaviors. A diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a risk factor for children aged 12 to 14.

The organization stated that older males, those born in Canada, teenagers with lower grades, or those who use tobacco or marijuana are more likely to use e-cigarettes.

One-third of teenagers who use e-cigarettes say they do so primarily to relieve stress, according to new data. This marks an increase compared to last year's figure of one-fifth, and is believed to be linked to the challenges to young people's mental health caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and disruption to education and the workplace.

According to Statistics Canada, "while the harm of e-cigarettes may be lower than traditional tobacco, it still carries the risk of nicotine dependence, use of other substances, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

People are concerned that widespread use of e-cigarettes could undermine the long-term decline of smoking and lead to a normalization of tobacco use.

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