Consider the Consequences of Vaping: students at A.E. Peacock Collegiate were asked to do exactly that during an interactive display about the realities and long-term health risks of vaping.
The display is currently on tour across Canada, stopping at high schools from coast to coast, to educate teens about the risks and consequences of vaping, as the use of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices is on the rise in North America. Statistically, 23 per cent of students in Grades 7-12 have tried an e-cigarette, according to a recent survey by Health Canada.
Consider the Consequences is a program meant to address the concerns about vaping with teens; it features a maze display with interactive questions about vaping and the dangers of inhaling chemicals such as the ones in vape liquid.
Students answering the question “What percentage of vape products contain nicotine?” The answer they chose, correctly, is 80 per cent of products. Vaping can lead to nicotine addiction, which in teens can alter brain development, and Vice-principal Tana Arnott says the topic is one that she felt needed to be addressed.
“[Vaping] has been a growing thing happening in our building and on our school grounds. So I wanted to make sure that we have all the information that we could, and that we could share it with parents, because parents need to know that everyone from Grade 9 girls to Grade 12 boys, everyone in between, they're all vaping, and trying it and experimenting,” said Arnott. “I really wanted to make sure we could find a way to educate the students on that.”
The response from students so far has been positive, according to both Arnott and the presenters running the display.
“They're just trying to educate as many youth as possible, because it is on the incline here, and it's huge in all high schools — not just in Moose Jaw — so it’s a great thing for people to know, that it's not just here,” said Arnott.
Current legislation prohibits the use of flavour additives in cigarettes, which has now been extended to include certain flavours of vape liquid that may be appealing to youth. While the government addresses this potential attraction of vaping to teens, Arnott says there can be other factors that interest teens as well.
“I've heard kids say all the cool kids do it, but in their world, it's better than smoking. It's not necessarily cheaper than smoking, but it is a little bit more affordable, in that sense. It's definitely taken off very, very quickly,” said Arnott.
Health Canada encourages teens and parents to educate themselves about vaping, offering information and resources on their website.
