The push to tighten the rules on vaping and e-cigarettes is on, with the local health unit reaching out to different levels of government for help.
The Simcoe Muskoka Board of Health has written to the federal and provincial governments asking for stringent restrictions on the display and promotion of vaping products, and to ban flavoured e-cigarettes outright.
Dr. Mike Benusic, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit's senior resident in public and preventive medicine, told BarrieToday it's needed because of the trend of youth marketing.
“There has been aggressive marketing campaign toward youth and you still have to be 19 years or older to buy vaping or e-cigarette products,” said Benusic. “We know they are getting into the hands of kids and it needs to be prevented.”
There have been 18 lung-disease deaths in the U.S. that some government officials south of the border have blamed on vaping, despite many authorities not having solid evidence that was the cause.
“This is fairly new and there are a lot of unknowns,” said Benusic. “I can’t speak to the U.S., deaths but we are seeing extreme lung disease in vape users all over. Anytime anything goes into your lungs, there is risk.
“Nicotine is a component in these products and it is one of the most addictive things in the world," he added. "We are, at this point, very concerned for the youth and trying to steer them away from doing it.”
According to the local health organization, the number of youth in Simcoe and Muskoka using the products has risen by 74 per cent from 2017 to 2018, jumping to 14.6 per cent from 8.4 per cent.
CigVape, which has two locations in Barrie and third opening in November, specializes in vaping products and says it caters mainly to people who want to or have quit smoking, as well as people who have just started vaping only. The company also has operations in Angus, Bradford, Orillia and Alliston.
CigVape CEO Carl Bertrand said he agrees with part of the board of health's request, but believes some of it is misguided.
“We disagree with a ban on flavouring,” Bertrand said. “Flavouring has helped get many people off of cigarettes. We have heard that from our customers.
"We do agree with a 100 per cent ban on advertising," he added. "We would like to see products removed from convenience stores.”
Bertrand said a large number of people who shop at corner stores are teens, with advertising is at eye level at most places. He would like to see it eliminated from establishments.
“If you look 25 years old or younger, you’re getting carded,” he said. “We are very strict with who we sell to, because that is our business. Stores that don’t specialize in vaping are not going to take it as serious.”
From a business perspective, Bertrand told BarrieToday he believes too much has been made of an issue that doesn’t have the science behind it to make accurate decisions.
“There seems to be a big push on discrediting the vaping industry and no mention of the massive harm that cigarettes cause,” he said. “With this mass hysteria that has been whipped in the media, you’re going to have a lot of people who have converted to vaping now leave vaping and go back to cigarettes.
“We’re trying to get people off cigarettes and save the health-care system billions of dollars," Bertrand added. "This has been way overblown.”
Carson Macneall, who is an employee at CigVape, says he feels better after quitting smoking and making the switch to vaping.
"I smoked for about six years and three years ago I started vaping," said Macneall. "I felt it would be healthier to make the switch and it has been. I got off of smoking by trying the watermelon flavour and since then I've been vaping and feeling better."
