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Smoking & Vaping

These pages and links offer information about preventing and quitting smoking and/or vaping, as well as the requirements and enforcement of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. For general information about the health effects of commercial tobacco as a substance – see the Tobacco specific page of our Substance Use section here.

Prevention

Educating people about the adverse health effects of smoking and vaping as well as the risks of nicotine dependence is a key component of our work to improve and protect the health of our population in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark. For more information on how the Health Unit engages people in learning about these topics so they can make informed decisions and manage risk see the Prevention of Smoking & Vaping page.

Quitting

Quitting is hard, but it’s not impossible. Every year, people make the choice to go tobacco and nicotine free and you can too. We are here to help.

A common approach to quitting smoking or vaping includes finding support, picking a date, making a plan and sticking to it! You are unique and your quit plan should be too. You can choose from a number of different methods, or you can combine methods for even greater chances of success.

Contact us at 1-800-660-5853 or email [email protected] to speak to trained cessation providers who can provide counseling, help develop a quit smoking/vaping plan, answer questions and provide referrals to programs and services that are right for you. Let us help you with your quit journey.

Ready to learn more? Check out these pages:

  • Considering quitting smoking/vaping?: information to help you make decisions about your health – including quitting, modifying or reducing your risk with the use of nicotine.
  • Ready to quit smoking/vaping!: information on how to access programs, use nicotine replacement effectively and tips to help you be successful in your quit journey.

Protection/Enforcement

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act regulates the sale and use of vaping and tobacco products to protect the people in Ontario. More specifically protect youth from the harm of tobacco, vapour products and reduce the chances of second hand smoke. See the blue buttons to find more information like location and sector specific factsheets, vendor regulations, reporting non-compliance or incidents online, requesting signage at your business or establishment and more.

E-cigarettes/Vaping

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or vapes) are battery-powered devices that aerosolize a propylene glycol or glycerol based chemical mixture (e-juice/e-liquid), which may contain nicotine or other substances. Health Canada has declared that completely replacing tobacco cigarette smoking with a vaping product (electronic or e-cigarette) will reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals. However, if you are not a smoker, vaping can increase your exposure to harmful substances that could negatively affect your health. Note that current research shows that using both e-cigarettes/vapes and tobacco cigarettes can increase your overall exposure to harmful chemicals.

While some people have been successful using e-cigarettes to quit smoking tobacco, they are not a widely recognized or recommended quit aid for many reasons. In fact – there has been a significant increase in people now seeking help to quit vaping in recent years. For more information on quitting smoking or vaping – see the appropriate page:

In Ontario, vaping products are regulated by the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and cannot be sold or supplied to anyone under 19.

For tips on reducing risk and safety of vaping products – see this page: Considering quitting smoking/vaping?