Vaping

Schools play an important role in addressing youth vaping. The actions below influence the four inter-related healthy school areas of a Comprehensive School Health approach.

1. Teaching and Learning:

• Use credible information and resources to teach the curriculum, such as:
  • Not an Experiment
  • Lungs are for life
  • Get the Facts
  • Consider the Consequences of Vaping
• Weave social-emotional learning into curricula to promote protective factors like skills in coping with stress, building relationships and thinking critically.
• Engage in professional learning for educators.
  • Consult credible information and resources about addressing Youth Vaping.
  • Request tailored support, training, and access to information and resources for educators. Reach out to schoolinfoecole@eohu.ca.

2. Social and Physical Environment:

• Implement activities to promote protective factors like healthy relationships, self-esteem, and belonging.
  • Expand and promote the range of extra-curricular programming available to students to reflect students' diverse interests and identities.
  • Facilitate opportunities for adults within the school community to serve as formal or informal mentors, providing youth with guidance as well as social and emotional support.
• Provide and promote cessation supports for students who vape.
  • Learn how to talk to students who vape, encourage them to think about quitting or reducing and refer them to appropriate supports.
    • Consult the Brief Conversations Toolkit
    • Become a certified Quash Facilitator to deliver a cessation program to students.
    • Request a tailored training from the EOHU. Reach out to schoolinfoecole@eohu.ca.
  • Share ways to cope with cravings with youth who vape.
    • These can include talking to a friend, being active, chewing gum, doodling, drinking water, and breathing deeply.
    • The following resources can help: Wait out withdrawal, Coping with cravings
  • Refer students who vape to supports:
    • Referral cards to hand out (print double sided and cut into cards)
    • Poster
    • The above resources refer to Quash. I Quit for Me is another option.
    • The EOHU can provide cessation counselling:
      • Schools can request support at schoolinfoecole@eohu.ca.
      • Students can call 1-800-267-7120.

3. Policies:

• Review and assess your school’s code of conduct and your school board’s policies. Consider relevant ministry-issued Policy and Program Memoranda, such as PPM 128. Reach out to schoolinfoecole@eohu.ca for support to tailor policy options to the school's context and needs.
• Use a progressive enforcement approach:
  • Communicate rules and expectations using tools such as:
    • Cost of School Infraction (poster)
    • Be Informed leaflet (call the EOHU at 1-800-267-7120 to order copies)
    • Order Smoke-Free Ontario Act Signs
  • Refer students to supports following an incident:
    • Referral cards to hand out (print double sided and cut into cards)
    • The following resources can help form a syllabus used in disciplinary procedures.
      • Learn: Not An Experiment, Vaping educational online self-led module
      • Reflect: Why Quit?
      • Connect with supports: Quash, I Quit for Me
  • Provide information to parents/caregivers following a student infraction, such as:
    • Vaping is not allowed in the school, on the grounds, or in public areas within 20 metres from the edge of school property. Supplying a youth with vapour products is not allowed. For information, refer to: Youth Vaping.
  • Report smoking or vaping, or the sale or supply of tobacco or vapour products on school property:
    • Fill out both forms below and send them by fax to the EOHU at 613-938-9707 (Attention: Executive Assistant).
      • School Infraction Report
      • Witness Statement (include details about the incident, where and when (date and time) it took place, and the names of the students/people involved)
    • Other questions regarding enforcement may be sent to: sfoa@eohu.ca.

4. Partnerships:

• Share information and resources on Youth Vaping and other opportunities with parents/guardians.
  • The EOHU can support, present to, or meet with groups such as parent councils or other interested or concerned parents/guardians within school communities. Reach out to schoolinfoecole@eohu.ca.
• Form a group to address student vaping. Don’t forget to involve students.
  • The EOHU can support groups using a comprehensive approach. Reach out to schoolinfoecole@eohu.ca.