Quebec: E-cig easy to access and popular with young people!

Publication of a leaflet of the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec

The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) - Quebec Division is very concerned about thedata published yesterday by the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ). Indeed, not only have more than a third of the students in the 2e secondary school already smoked the electronic cigarette (EC), but nearly half of the high school students who have used it (46%) do not exclude to try the traditional cigarette (with tobacco). In addition, already at the end of primary, near 1 young on 10 has tried the EC.

In 2012-2013, one-third of high school students had used it in their lifetime. According to the INSPQ, these results are high compared to those obtained in the United States and suggest that young Quebecers have very easy access to this product. "It's disturbing, but not surprising. Why would young people stop buying a fashionable, flavored, affordable product within their reach? Since the government has the power to prohibit the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors, the eyes are now on him for the protection of our young people. This measure must be included in the revision of the Tobacco Act promised by Minister Lucie Charlebois ", recalls Melanie Champagne. Another element raises concerns: flavors in tobacco and in the EC. "Flavors are everywhere: regular cigarettes, little cigars, electronic cigarettes. In January 2014, there were more 7000 flavors available, just for the electronic cigarette. Clearly, the industry has seized the appeal of flavors to young people and uses this strategy to recruit a new clientele, "says Geneviève Berteau, Policy Analyst, CSC - Quebec Division.

According to the INSPQ, "despite the differences of opinion of health experts around the risks and benefits of e-cigarettes for public health, a consensus is emerging on the need to regulate advertising and related promotion, and to prohibit access to less than 18 years. The CSC shares this opinion and believes that under no circumstances would these measures restrict access to adults who want to use the electronic cigarette, certainly less damaging than regular tobacco.

Last week, the CCS launched in the National Assembly, alongside the Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control, the 10 campaign in 10, which proposes as a target a smoking rate of 10%, in 10 years. Tobacco is responsible for one out of every three cancer deaths. Addressing it is, for the CCS, the main way to save more lives.

Electronic cigarette and teens

- 5000 pupils in the 6th year of primary school have already tried electronic cigarettes

- 31% of high school students who have never used an electronic cigarette, around 84 students, do not rule out the possibility of using it in the future

- More than one in three secondary school students have already used electronic cigarettes, i.e. around 143 students

- Electronic cigarettes are attractive to boys: 41% of boys have used it, compared to 28% of girls

- Some 48 high school students who have never smoked a cigarette have already used an electronic cigarette (000%)

Source : http://www.lavantage.qc.ca/