The What, Why, and How of Teen Vaping in CanadaHost (Juliette): Hello and welcome to the Zed News YYC podcast. We are young journalists from the Alexandra Writers Center passionate about creating balanced and engaging news that is relevant to us. We aim to keep the public informed, highlight solutions, keep the powerful in check, and give voice to those who don’t always get heard. Our reporters here today are Priya, Heather, Kristina, Hari, and I'm your host today Juliette. The issue on the table Teen vaping in Canada with a recent Health Canada survey stating that nearly one in four 7 to 12th graders have tried vaping, we want to tell you the what why and how of teen vaping in Canada. Priya is here to give us the rundown on what vaping is and what laws are there to protect young people from vaping. Priya, can you tell us?
Reporter 1 (Priya): Yes, for sure, thank you Juliette. Vaping was first introduced to Canada in 2004, but its popularity has exploded since then due to nicotine being allowed in them as of 2018 because of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act. Vapes are handheld electronic cigarettes that are battery powered. Many teens fill the vapes with nicotine, which is why they’re getting addicted. The vape vaporizers the nicotine so that it is easy to inhale and exhale, and many teens are are charging their vape batteries in laptop USB ports in school. The rules around vaping are anyone under the age of 18 or 19, it depends on your province’s legal drinking age, are not allowed to vape. You are not allowed to vape in any public spaces where cigarettes have previously been banned, which includes airplanes as well. You’re not allowed to vape in outdoor spaces such as ice rinks and it’s illegal to sell to underage youth. And due to recent deaths related to vaping in the States, India has completely banned vaping, which is punishable to up to one year in jail. Host (Juliette): Interesting. Heather, tell us how and why teens are vaping with all these legal restrictions and possible fines on the table? Reporter 2 (Heather): Okay, so vapes were originally meant for people to quit smoking but teens however,have different ideas of why they vape. Some reasons are that some are curious about the vapes and what the vapes taste like. Teens are often attracted to the fruity flavors of the nicotine they use, for example a chocolate flavor or even a bubble gum flavour of nicotine is used. Some start because his or her friends did and were merely curious about vapes and wish to try. Some teens think that vaping will help them look cool. The next matter at hand is how teens get vapes when they are illegal for people below the age of 18. The first way is to create a fake ID. Fake IDs are ways that teens enter pubs or buy vapes. Some stores sell vapes illegally without having to show their IDs. This is extremely dangerous and could often lead to vaping addictions. Some teens have parents or older siblings that do not mind and purchase these vapes. Often people buy vapes online, which is a way to purchase vapes without using IDs. There are some cases where teens use dealers to purchase these vapes illegally.. Host (Juliette): Kristina can you tell us about the health risk associated with vaping? Reporter 3 (Kristina): Though nicotine is not known to directly cause cancer, like cigarettes, there are still risks associated with vaping. Nicotine is a stimulant and is a highly addictive substance, which can cause a nicotine addiction amongst those who vape and those who don’t (from secondhand inhalation). Those who are younger, such as children and youth, are especially vulnerable to addiction when exposed to lower levels of nicotine. According to Health Canada, vaping can affect concentration and memory and is also known to alter the brain development of teens. In adolescents, exposure to vaping and nicotine can lead to reduced impulse control as well as cognitive and behavioral problems. Host (Juliette): And can you tell me about this mysterious vaping illness I keep hearing about? Reporter 3 (Kristina): Vaping liquid that comes into contact with the skin or is consumed can lead to a condition called nicotine poisoning. Cases related to nicotine poisoning range from fatal to non-fatal. There is also a concern that vaping is related to a condition called “popcorn lung” (a chronic disease that damages small airways in the lungs) that is associated with diacetyl, a flavoring chemical used in vapes. Health officials in the U.S flagged hundreds of respiratory illnesses related to those who vape which, according to reports by CBC News, included six deaths. Doctors in Canada are concerned about the sudden illness, and that people incorrectly assume that nicotine products are harmless. Host (Juliette): With all these health risks related to vaping, Hari, what are schools doing about teen vaping? Reporter 4: (Hari) One Calgary school, Peter Lougheed, writes on the website that “Students are not allowed to smoke or vape on the school grounds or within site of the school. It is strictly prohibited and illegal. Students are asked to bring to school any items associated with smoking such as cigarettes, E-cigarettes, lighters, or matches. They will be taken away from the student permanently. Parents will be notified if the student is caught smoking during the day.” Schools currently only give the kids who vape warnings and detentions but sometimes teachers and principals don't even catch the kids vaping, which can make other kids in the school feel insecure. Students are also made aware by the teachers of clever vaping marketing techniques, arming them with strategies for avoiding the social media hype. According to the New York Times, American schools can sue the vaping company’s or the manufacturer that sells the vapes to under aged kids. In the U.S. 1,080 public school students have developed lung cancer due to vaping, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last week. Schools should take note of that. Host (Juliette): And with everything we have learned about vaping today, Priya where can teen vapers go to get help quitting? Reporter 1 (Priya): If teenagers want help, or, their parents desire them to get help to quit vaping, the Government of Canada recommends that you visit the quit-smoking website for your province, or see your doctor. In addition to this, you can find many websites and resources on Canada.ca, or you can call 1-866-366-3667. Host (Juliette): Well you’ve been listening to the Zed News YYC podcast on teen vaping in Canada, produced by young journalists at the Alexandra Writers Centre in Calgary. This episode was produced by Priya, Heather, Kristina, Hari, and I’m your host Juliette. Special thanks to Lisney who helped research and write this episode but could not join us in the studio here today .For more Zed News journalism, please visit our website www.zednewsyyc.weebly.com
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