Canada's Teen Vaping Rates Among World's Highest

May.18.2023
Canada's Teen Vaping Rates Among World's Highest
Canadian teens rank high globally in e-cigarette use, with flavored e-cigarettes exacerbating the crisis, says expert.

On May 17th, as reported by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canadian teenagers' frequent use of electronic cigarettes ranks among the highest in the world. Experts point out that the federal government has failed to take action and widely available flavored e-cigarettes are exacerbating this increasingly serious crisis.


The usage of electronic cigarettes among students remains high.


According to the "Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey" released by officials, 29% of Canadian students have tried e-cigarettes. The survey covered a total of 61,096 students in grades 7 through 12 in 9 provinces. Overall, this number has decreased slightly, lower than the 34% in 2018-2019, but it is higher in older age groups. 41% of students in grades 10 through 12 have tried e-cigarettes.


In Canada, the frequent use of electronic cigarettes is quite common.


In the past month, 17% of students have used electronic cigarettes, slightly lower than the 20% reported in 2018-2019. However, among students in grades 10 to 19, the number has risen again, with over 24% becoming monthly users.


According to a survey, 8% of all surveyed students use e-cigarettes daily, while the percentage is close to 12% among students in grades 10 to 12.


Experts say that this is one of the highest ratios ever recorded in history.


David Hammond, a public health professor at the University of Waterloo and a research fellow in Canadian youth e-cigarette usage, stated that...


Data confirms that Canada has one of the highest rates of teenage e-cigarette use in the world, particularly concerning daily usage.


He added, "We are basically at the highest historical level of daily e-cigarette consumption.


Compared to 2017, this figure is significantly higher. At that time, only 10% of students had used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, while 11% of students reported using e-cigarettes daily.


The association with disposable e-cigarette products.


The results indicate that the surge in electronic cigarette use among adolescents is related to the popularity of disposable products.


The disposable e-cigarette product comes with thousands of puffs pre-loaded, eliminating the need for refill or pod replacement, making it convenient and portable.


Rob Cunningham, Senior Policy Analyst at the Canadian Cancer Society, has expressed concern over the persistently high rates of e-cigarette use among teenagers, calling it an unacceptable and longstanding issue.


He further pointed out:


We need the federal government to take immediate action to ban the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes, as it is one of the factors contributing to the high usage rates.


Experts are urging for stronger measures to be taken to curb the rampant use of e-cigarettes among young people. They believe that increasing regulatory efforts, intensifying education and awareness campaigns, and restricting advertising and sales channels for e-cigarettes are important steps in addressing this issue.


References:


. According to recent data, Canada has one of the highest rates of teenage vaping in the world.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Special Report | Altria's NACS Booth Raises Questions Over U.S. Tobacco Advertising Warnings
Special Report | Altria's NACS Booth Raises Questions Over U.S. Tobacco Advertising Warnings
During its coverage of Altria's booth at NACS Show 2026, 2Firsts documented product displays that prompted questions about U.S. tobacco advertising warning requirements. Following public comments from a former FDA official, 2Firsts sought responses from Altria and independently consulted U.S. regulatory lawyer Azim Chowdhury. Altria maintained that its B2B communications complied with applicable laws, while Chowdhury explained that federal warning rules provide no general trade-show exemption for e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. The special report examines the broader regulatory implications.
Nov.04
Virginia Tobacco Retail Permit Takes Effect October 1, Covering Vapes as More Than 3,000 Businesses Apply in September
Virginia Tobacco Retail Permit Takes Effect October 1, Covering Vapes as More Than 3,000 Businesses Apply in September
Virginia's new retail tobacco permit system took effect October 1, requiring sellers of vapes, nicotine products and related devices and accessories to obtain a Retail Tobacco Permit for each business location. Virginia ABC said more than 3,000 businesses applied in September alone, creating a processing backlog. Qualifying applicants that filed before October 1 may temporarily operate under a Letter of Authorization. The new store-level permit also sits alongside Virginia's existing vape product directory, where sales of unlisted liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products can trigger civil penalties starting at $5,000.
Regulations
Oct.03
Product | DOJO Launches 0+6ml BLAST7K Fresh in UK in September, Retaining 2+8ml Pod Compatibility Ahead of October Per-Milliliter Vaping Duty
Product | DOJO Launches 0+6ml BLAST7K Fresh in UK in September, Retaining 2+8ml Pod Compatibility Ahead of October Per-Milliliter Vaping Duty
DOJO officially launched the BLAST7K Fresh on September 17, 2026, introducing a UK-market prefilled pod product with 6ml of e-liquid and a manufacturer-rated capacity of up to 7,000 puffs. The device features a 1000mAh rechargeable battery, the INSTA-JUICED structure and COREX BLAST dual-mesh technology, while retaining compatibility with existing BLAST pods. The launch comes less than two weeks before the UK's Vaping Products Duty takes effect on October 1. At the new duty rate, 6ml of vaping liquid would correspond to £1.32 in VPD. DOJO has not stated that the product's 6ml format was designed in response to the new duty.
Sep.20
Russia's State Duma Passes Tobacco and Nicotine Ingredient Disclosure Bill, Targeting 2027 End to Trade-Secret Protection for Certain Harmful Ingredient Data
Russia's State Duma Passes Tobacco and Nicotine Ingredient Disclosure Bill, Targeting 2027 End to Trade-Secret Protection for Certain Harmful Ingredient Data
Russia's State Duma passed a government-sponsored amendment on November 11, 2026, by 414 votes to none, seeking to prevent businesses from classifying information on the presence and number of types of certain harmful ingredients in tobacco and nicotine-containing products as trade secrets. The measure covers ingredients capable of increasing nicotine dependence or exhibiting toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive toxicity, including substances that acquire such properties during heating or smoldering. Bill No. 1286415-8 would amend Article 5 of Federal Law No. 98-FZ on Commercial Secrets and is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. The bill has cleared all three readings in the State Duma but has not completed the remaining legislative procedures.
Regulations
Nov.12 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Philippines Mandates Safety Certification for Nicotine Pouches, Gives Industry 12 Months to Comply
Philippines Mandates Safety Certification for Nicotine Pouches, Gives Industry 12 Months to Comply
The Philippines Department of Trade and Industry has placed nicotine pouches under mandatory product certification through Department Administrative Order No. 26-07, Series of 2026. Nicotine pouches must obtain a Philippine Standard, or PS, license before they can be manufactured, imported, packed, distributed or sold in the country. The regime requires testing for nicotine content, pH and water activity, while packaging must disclose nicotine strength, ingredients, allergens, batch information, the PS certification mark and prescribed health warnings. Existing market participants have a 12-month transition period to comply.
Regulations
Oct.12
BAT Adds Former Apple General Counsel Bruce Sewell to Board as Finance, Legal, Marketing and Regional Leadership Shift
BAT Adds Former Apple General Counsel Bruce Sewell to Board as Finance, Legal, Marketing and Regional Leadership Shift
British American Tobacco has appointed former Apple Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Bruce Sewell as an independent non-executive director, effective January 1, 2027. He will also join BAT's Audit and Nominations Committees. BAT Chair Luc Jobin highlighted Sewell's experience in technology, government and regulatory affairs, public-company governance and AI-company boards. Over the past 18 months, BAT has changed or announced changes to its CFO, general counsel, CMO and APMEA regional leadership, while the main board has also seen multiple changes. The appointment comes as BAT advances Horizon 2030 and its Fit2Win transformation while expanding New Categories and reshaping parts of its digital, technology and operating structure.
Business
Oct.29