Submitted by: Dawn Fortune & Jill Lambden, Team Members of Alberta Health Services’ School Health & Wellness Promotion Team, with support from the AHS Provincial Tobacco Reduction Program
Vaping is a hot topic these days. Sometimes
it seems like everywhere you look, there’s a new story about vaping rates,
vaping-related illness, or vaping-related policy changes.
Like many concerned adults, teachers are
trying to understand the ins-and-outs of vaping trends, especially when it
comes to their students.
Read on to learn more about what you can do
to boost your knowledge and skills for quality conversations about vaping –
with your students, their families, and others in the school community.
What is vaping, anyway?
Vaping is the act
of inhaling and exhaling an aerosol produced by a vaping device. Common names
for vaping devices include: e-hookahs, electronic or e-cigarettes, electronic
nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), vape pens, or vapes. Vaping devices have a battery, a reservoir to hold a
liquid solution, a heating element, and a mouthpiece. The heating element heats
the liquid solution into vapors, which then condense into aerosols and are
inhaled through the mouthpiece.
What’s in the vaping liquid?
It is hard to know
what exactly is in vaping solution (often called e-juice or e-liquid) – Health Canada is still working toward labeling
regulations. The liquid solution varies in composition but is usually propylene
glycol and/or vegetable glycerin based, combined with flavor. E-liquid may
also contain nicotine, varying from low levels to more than what is found in a
typical cigarette.
Is vaping dangerous?
Vaping increases a person’s exposure to
chemicals that have health risks. E-cigarettes are a relatively new product and
more research is needed in order to learn about the risks. Given what we do
know so far, the Government of Canada recommends that non-smokers, people who
are pregnant, and young people should not vape.
As a teacher, what can I do about students’ vaping?
As
an educator, what you do matters. Here are some ways you can be involved:
·
Share information about vaping that is
science-based and credible. Great classroom resources can be found on AlbertaQuits.ca. Seeing through the vape, an online
learning module for teachers, can help build your own background knowledge
about vaping.
·
Talk to students about vaping in a
supportive and non-judgmental way. Talking with your teen about vaping: A tip sheet for parents, available in both
French and English, offers helpful advice to get the conversation going.
·
Help students build social emotional
skills so they’re better able to make decisions, resist peer influence, and
achieve their goals. CASEL is the perfect place to learn more.
·
Help students who are already vaping to
find support to quit. Students can access the AHS Addiction Help Line, a free,
confidential service from AHS. You can
also contact your local AHS Addiction and Mental Health Office to find out what
other supports are available in your community. Check out our list of services
by AHS zone here.
