Advocates demand stricter federal limits on youth nicotine use
Health organizations call for Ottawa to reduce nicotine consumption below 5% by 2045 as vaping among young Canadians rises.
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Several health organizations are urging the federal government to bring down nicotine use among Canadians to less than 5 percent of the population by 2045, as vaping among youth rises at an alarming rate.
Les Hagen, executive director of Action on Smoking and Health, says nicotine use has grown exponentially among Canadians aged 25 and under. "It's a huge concern," he said. Published systematic reviews show that vaping creates a nicotine pathway in the brain, which makes youth more susceptible to starting smoking cigarettes.
The consensus emerged from a two-day roundtable on reducing tobacco and nicotine use in Canada held ahead of World No Tobacco Day on Sunday. Hagen demanded stricter measures against vaping products: flavour restrictions, more health warnings on packaging, and a ban on online sales to meet the 2045 targets.
There is some good news: five million fewer Canadians are consuming tobacco today compared to levels 26 years ago. But progress has stalled among young people, where the trajectory is heading the wrong way.