Vaping among young people is on the rise
About 15 per cent of youth vape, according to a community health promoter with the North Bay Parry Sound Health Unit.
“In fact, 84 per cent are using products that have nicotine in them,” said Alyssa Bedard.
Bedard said there are several reasons why young people are vaping.
“It could be peer influence, plus easy to access the products from peers and a lot of them just enjoy it because of the sensation, and gives them a buzz,” she said.
The health promoter said many youth are also vaping to cope with stress in their life.
“Many use it because of anxiety and a lot are grabbing them because a lot of others are doing it, so why not them,” Bedard said.
She said vaping products come in so many different flavours that appeal to youth.
“They come in different candy and fruit flavours," Bedard said.
"And it makes it really appealing for young people to really want to try this item ... So many vape products on the market contain nicotine. One vape pod can contain as many as 20 cigarettes."
The health promoter is also warning about the effect of vaping on a teenager’s brain.
“The brain develops about until the age of 25," she said.
"It is undergoing different and important changes during that time. Vaping can influence learning, memory, concentration and attention. All of which are important (for) success in school.”
Bedard said vaping can also worsen a student’s mental health and increase anxiety.
She added there is information about smoking and vaping cessation programs on the health unit’s website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus survives vote calling for his ouster
Greg Fergus survived a vote to oust him as House of Commons Speaker on Tuesday, but with close to half of MPs expressing a loss of confidence in him, he faces a precarious path forward in maintaining order in Parliament.
'It was hell': Israeli mother held hostage with her children describes 51 days in captivity
Hagar Brodutch, her three children and four-year-old neighbour were kidnapped by Hamas-led militants from their home in Kfar Aza, Israel on Oct. 7 and held for 51 days. They were released in November, but Brodutch says her thoughts are never far from those still being held in Gaza.
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
P.E.I. kiteboarder 'lucky to be alive' after shark attack in Turks and Caicos
A professional kiteboarder from P.E.I. says he has been seriously injured in a shark attack that occurred while he was snorkelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands last week.
Teen dies after being hit by train in N.W. Calgary
A teenager has died after being hit by a train in northwest Calgary on Tuesday afternoon.
Black bear kebabs make family sick with parasitic worms
It was supposed to be a celebration, but one family’s unique meal of black bear meat sent several members to the hospital instead.
'It's his vacation too': Jimmy the baby goat joins 2-week road trip across Canada
After Jimmy the baby goat was shunned by his mother, a New Brunswick man took the kid on a two-week road trip across Canada.
The double-level airplane seat is back. This time, there’s a first-class version
It’s the airplane seat design that launched a thousand memes and kickstarted a media storm. And now the double-level seat is back – only this time, with a twist.
New COVID-19 subvariants become the dominant strains in Canada
More than four years after COVID-19 effectively shut down the world, two new variants of COVID-19 have become the dominant strains of the novel coronavirus in Canada.