Environment Scan on Adolescent Vaping in Canada

Currently there are very few true environmental scan articles for adolescent vaping. An article by Cole et al., (2020) has some elements of an environmental scan. 

Cole, A.G., Aleyan, S., Battista, K. et al. Trends in youth e-cigarette and cigarette use between 2013 and 2019: insights from repeat cross-sectional data from the COMPASS study. Can J Public Health 112, 60–69 (2021). https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-020-00389-0

The article titled “Trends in youth e-cigarette and cigarette use between 2013 and 2019: insights from repeat cross-sectional data from the COMPASS study” by Cole et al., (2020) although not labelled an “environmental scan” explicitly, fulfills many of the characteristics in an environmental scan. The article highlights the prevalence, product/market shifts, and behavioural trends in the youth population with respects to vaping. This peer-reviewed study examines trends in youth e-cigarette and cigarette use across four Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec) using data from the COMPASS school-based surveillance system. Using data from more than 78,000 students in grades 9–12, Cole et al., (2020) assessed changes in ever-use and current use of both e-cigarettes and cigarettes between 2013–2014 and 2018–2019. The authors found an increase in youth e-cigarette use—from 8.4% to 29.4% ever-use and from 4.3% to 15% current use. Additionally, Cole et al., (2020) found that cigarette smoking remained stable or declined modestly. Additionally, Cole et al., (2020) highlight that vaping has rapidly replaced smoking as the dominant form of nicotine use among Canadian youth and emphasizes the need for stronger policy interventions and educational campaigns to counter youth uptake. This paper provides valuable data for health promotion practitioners as it reports demographic breakdowns, province-level variations, and compares vaping vs cigarette use. Additionally, this study provides context regarding policy changes and market shifts. Cole er al., (2020) highlight national and provincial tobacco control strategies and emerging gaps in youth protection policies. However, this article has some limitations, mainly as it is not a true environmental scan. The article by Cole et al., (2020) mainly focuses its study on quantitative trends in vaping prevalence and does not place much attention on environmental aspects such as social determinants of health, marketing exposure, social media and retail products. Additionally, this article does not incorporate qualitative data from youth to explore why vaping behaviors have changed. Exploring this could help enhance the understanding of situational components associated with youth vaping. Lastly, only four provinces were included, omitting many Canadian provinces and territories. As a result, this does not give a true reflect of Canada. This study does not take into account of the northern and Atlantic regions, where social contexts may differ and regulation/policies surrounding vaping may differ. Overall, Cole et al. (2021) offers strong evidence surrounding the vaping prevalence among Canadian youth but lacks the multi-sectoral, socio-ecological, and policy depth expected in a full environmental scan. This study does give health promotion practitioners relevant information that can be utilized to address the health issue of youth vaping.

References: 

Cole, A.G., Aleyan, S., Battista, K. et al. Trends in youth e-cigarette and cigarette use between 2013 and 2019: insights from repeat cross-sectional data from the COMPASS study. Can J Public Health 112, 60–69 (2021). https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-020-00389-0