HKPR District Health Unit Board Meeting – Tobacco Control Group Deals with Vaping Epidemic
By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Enforcement of regulations surrounding vaping is taking up more and more of the resources of the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit, Tobacco Control Officer Robert Hewitt told the board of health April meeting.
Along with fellow Tobacco Control Officer Lorne Jordan, they enforce the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and its provisions pertaining to both smoking and vaping.
“Vaping is our predominant concern right now,” Hewitt said – in fact, three years ago the American Surgeon General declared it an epidemic for those under 19 years of age.
The product became available in Canada in 2004. The lack of regulations for the few years thereafter allowed the habit to gain a strong foothold. While smoking rates had been declining world-wide at that time, Hewitt said, recent statistics showing past-30-days use by 15-to-19-year-olds were 15%.
“This is quite alarming,” he declared.
“From speaking with kids in high school, there’s no challenge at all in obtaining e-cigarettes. We know sales are increasing year over year.”
Hewitt provided figures for the past two years, with the caution that their enforcement activities were curtailed over the past two years as staff resources from so many departments were focused on fighting COVID-19.
Pre-pandemic, he said, there were no complaints regarding under-age vaping. Just this far into 2022, they have received four.
“The numbers are minimal, but I want to stress that it’s very unusual and rare for a person to pick up the phone and complain to us about this concern,” he pointed out.
“Even though the numbers are small, it’s only the tip of the iceberg.”
He also discussed the difference between conventional outlets like convenience stores – which are allowed to sell both tobacco and vaping products – and vaping stores, which sell only vaping products.
A merchant convicted twice of selling tobacco to underage consumers loses the ability to sell tobacco. A vape merchant facing similar convictions can keep selling with only a monetary penalty.
Inspections for noncompliance resulted in 49 warnings in 2018 – rising to 270 just so far in 2022.
His department sent out 117 warning letters regarding vaping on school property in 2021. As of March 29, they had sent out 30 letters in 2022.
Looking ahead, Hewitt said, his team will work on gaining compliance and they look forward to Health Canada’s reported move to restrict flavours.
Meanwhile, he said, they do accept anonymous calls to report vendors selling to underage customers. You can contact Hewitt or Jordan at 1-866-888-4577.
