Vaping Education and Prevention
Rates of youth vaping have increased significantly over the past 10 years in our area’s schools according to the COMPASS: 2022-23 Report Northwestern Health Unit Region. It is important to educate youth about the potential harm that vaping can cause.
The following resources align with Ontario curriculum requirements and aim to give educators evidence-based tools to teach young people about vaping.
Vaping Prevention Kits
Schools can borrow a Vaping Prevention Kit which includes interactive activities for students, school challenge materials, and classroom curriculum supports. Kits are targeted to students in grades 4-12 and are available in local health unit offices.
Tobacco Reduction in Youth Partnerships (TRYPs) grant
Area schools can access funding to support projects that focus on vaping prevention with youth in grades 7-12. Through this grant, the Northwest Tobacco Control Area Network aims to build and enhance partnerships with regional youth-focused groups, schools, and organizations.
Cessation (Quitting) resources
You can use the following to help someone to quit smoking:
- Not an Experiment is a website where youth can create a quit plan and find resources to support their cessation efforts.
- Quash is a free smoking and vaping cessation program for youth that makes it easy to build a custom plan for quitting. Co-designed with youth and available across Canada in English and French, Quash consists of four core program elements: website and resources, mobile app, adult ally training and coaching.
- #StopVaping Challenge is an app that provides a place for youth to reflect on their vaping behaviours and patterns in a fun, social way that encourages quitting with friends.
- Crush the Crave is an app developed by researchers with input from people who vape to help users quit vaping. Features include a customized quit plan, tracking of cravings and vaping habits, including a diary of vaping triggers, access to evidence-based services in Canada that support quitting vaping, and calculators showing the amount of money saved since quitting.
Grade 9-12 resources
The following are vaping-related resources for students in grades 9-12.
Lesson plans
| Resource title | Description |
|---|---|
| Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA) Association ontarienne d’éducation physique et santé (OPHEA) | Grade by grade curriculum-support resources for the Health and Physical Education curriculum, including vaping prevention. |
| Vaping: Know the Truth – Truth Initiative | Four interactive lessons that inform students about the harmful ingredients inside e-cigarettes, how young people are targeted by the tobacco industry, the addictiveness of nicotine, and the health risks of using vapes. Lessons are approximately 45 minutes each and available to schools in Canada. *This resource is US based, statistics will reflect the US |
| You and Me Together Vape-Free – Stanford Medicine | Interactive curriculum including six lessons, approximately 50 minutes each. Each lesson provides activities, an online quiz, games, and worksheets in addition to presentations, resources, and other materials and are aimed at addressing key factors associated with youth vaping. *This resource is US based, statistics will reflect the US |
Learning modules and presentations
| Resource title | Description |
|---|---|
| Not an Experiment Pas une expérience | A digital, interactive toolkit to educate youth about e-cigarettes and vaping, including lesson plans, presentations, an escape room-style activity, and general school resources (incl. posters, social media, videos, and announcements). |
| Health Canada – Consider the Consequences of Vaping Santé Canada – Considérez les conséquences du vapotage | Interactive learning modules, activities, and general school resources (incl. posters, social media, and videos) that provide information about nicotine, the hidden dangers, and the cost of vaping. |
| Digital Learning for Youth Advocates – Lung Health Foundation | Online learning modules about vaping and youth advocacy. Topics include: “What the Vape”, “Learn How to Push Back Against an Industry that Kills”, “Create Your Own Awesome Campaign” and more! |
| Talking About Series – Lung Health Foundation | Online learning modules that address cannabis, tobacco, vaping, and water-pipe use to help facilitate critical discussion in an approachable and informative manner. All modules are intended to engage young people, using interactive activities, while inspiring critical thinking and reflection. |
Videos
| Resource title | Description |
|---|---|
| Not an Experiment Pas une expérience | A digital, interactive toolkit to educate youth about e-cigarettes and vaping, including lesson plans, presentations, an escape room-style activity, and general school resources (incl. posters, social media, videos, announcements). |
| The Real Cost Videos (My Vaping Mistake – Mental Health, My Vaping Mistake – Peer Pressure and Strained Relationships, My Vaping Mistake – Sports Performance, My Vaping Mistake – Impact on Future) | Impactful educational campaign videos with real youth testimonials about their experiences with vaping. *This resource is US based, statistics will reflect the US. |
School resources (posters, social media, announcements, etc)
| Resource title | Description |
|---|---|
| Not an Experiment Pas une expérience | A digital, interactive toolkit to educate youth about e-cigarettes and vaping, including lesson plans, presentations, an escape room-style activity, and general school resources (incl. posters, social media, videos, announcements). |
| Health Canada – Consider the Consequences of Vaping Santé Canada – Considérez les conséquences du vapotage | Interactive learning modules, activities, and general school resources (incl. posters, social media, videos) providing information about nicotine, the hidden dangers, and the cost of vaping. |
| Unfiltered Facts – Use Your Instincts | Educational, interactive online campaign focusing on the facts about vaping and its associated risks, including school resources (incl. posters, social media, videos). |
Resources for parents
| Resource title | Description |
|---|---|
| Not an Experiment Pas une expérience | A digital, interactive toolkit to educate youth about e-cigarettes and vaping, including lesson plans, presentations, an escape room-style activity, and general school resources (incl. posters, social media, videos, announcements). |
| Talking with Your Teens About Vaping – Government of Canada | Tip sheet on how to talk to teens about vaping and important information to know when approaching the conversation for parents and educators. |
Grade K-8 resources
The following are vaping-related resources for students in grades K-8.
Lesson plans
| Resource title | Description |
|---|---|
| Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA) Association ontarienne d’éducation physique et santé (OPHEA) | Grade-by-grade curriculum-support resources for the Health and Physical Education curriculum, including vaping prevention. |
| Not an Experiment Pas une expérience | A digital, interactive toolkit to educate youth about e-cigarettes and vaping, including lesson plans, presentations, an escape room-style activity, and general school resources (incl. posters, social media, videos, and announcements). |
| You and Me Together Vape-Free – Stanford Medicine | Interactive curriculum including six lessons, approximately 50 minutes each. Each lesson provides activities, an online quiz, games, and worksheets in addition to presentations, resources, and other materials and are aimed at addressing key factors associated with youth vaping. *This resource is US based, statistics will reflect the US |
Learning modules and presentations
| Resource title | Description |
|---|---|
| Not an Experiment Pas une expérience | A digital, interactive toolkit to educate youth about e-cigarettes and vaping, including lesson plans, presentations, an escape room-style activity, and general school resources (incl. posters, social media, videos, and announcements). |
| Health Canada – Consider the Consequences of Vaping Santé Canada – Considérez les conséquences du vapotage | Interactive learning modules, activities, and general school resources (incl. posters, social media, videos) providing information about nicotine, the hidden dangers, and the cost of vaping. |
| Digital Learning for Youth Advocates – Lung Health Foundation | Online learning modules about vaping and youth advocacy. Topics include: “What the Vape”, “Learn How to Push Back Against an Industry that Kills”, “Create Your Own Awesome Campaign” and more! |
| Talking About Series – Lung Health Foundation | Online learning modules that address cannabis, tobacco, vaping, and water-pipe use to help facilitate critical discussion in an approachable and informative manner. All modules are intended to engage young people, using interactive activities, while inspiring critical thinking and reflection. |
Videos
| Resource title | Description |
|---|---|
| Not an Experiment Pas une expérience | A digital, interactive toolkit to educate youth about e-cigarettes and vaping, including lesson plans, presentations, an escape room-style activity, and general school resources (incl. posters, social media, videos, and announcements). |
Classroom activities
| Resource title | Description |
|---|---|
| Not an Experiment Pas une expérience | A digital, interactive toolkit to educate youth about e-cigarettes and vaping, including lesson plans, presentations, an escape room-style activity, and general school resources (incl. posters, social media, videos, and announcements). |
| Health Canada – Consider the Consequences of Vaping Santé Canada – Considérez les conséquences du vapotage | Interactive learning modules, activities, and general school resources (incl. posters, social media, videos) providing information about nicotine, the hidden dangers, and the cost of vaping. |
School resources (posters, social media, announcements, etc)
| Resource title | Description |
|---|---|
| Not an Experiment Pas une expérience | A digital, interactive toolkit to educate youth about e-cigarettes and vaping, including lesson plans, presentations, an escape room-style activity, and general school resources (incl. posters, social media, videos, and announcements). |
| Health Canada – Consider the Consequences of Vaping Santé Canada – Considérez les conséquences du vapotage | Interactive learning modules, activities, and general school resources (incl. posters, social media, videos) providing information about nicotine, the hidden dangers, and the cost of vaping. |
Resources for parents
| Resource title | Description |
|---|---|
| Not an Experiment Pas une expérience | A digital, interactive toolkit to educate youth about e-cigarettes and vaping, including lesson plans, presentations, an escape room-style activity, and general school resources (incl. posters, social media, videos, and announcements). |
| Talking with Your Teens About Vaping – Government of Canada | Tip sheet on how to talk to teens about vaping and important information to know when approaching the conversation for parents and educators. |