Tobacco, vaping, and cannabis products have risks and health effects for kids, teens and young adults.
Companies that make these products target young people. They entice them with false claims and appealing products (like vapes and nicotine pouches). Protecting young people from the harmful effects of nicotine and cannabis is a public health priority.
Research shows that the brain develops until around age 25. Until that time, youth are sensitive to the harms of nicotine and cannabis.
Preventing tobacco, vaping, and cannabis use in youth starts by helping young people avoid these products altogether. Prevention is a shared responsibility. Everyone plays a role.
Studies show that kids and teens like to get health information and advice from adults they can trust, including parents, caregivers, health professionals and other youth allies (like teachers, coaches, and youth leaders). If you’re an adult who spends time with young people, you can shape their knowledge, beliefs, and actions around nicotine and cannabis.
Use these resources to help you support the kids, teens, and young adults in your life.
Email tvcp@ahs.ca
Behind the Haze is a multi-year information campaign on the harms of vaping and vaping products developed by and for youth ages 13-17. This campaign consists of a website (behindthehaze.ca), social media, movie theatre ads, schools and youth groups/organizations and youth events/festivals.
Support the campaign by:
The everyday ways you connect with kids and teens can protect them the harms of substance use. Go to TalkTips for advice on how to support the young people you care about. You’ll find videos and web-based resources to guide open and honest chats about alcohol, cannabis, and other substances.
Primary prevention in schools is essential to foster a healthier, more equitable, and conducive learning environment that sets students on a path to success and well-being. Our understanding of effective health education and health promotion in schools has greatly advanced over the years. It is important that school communities understand and use the best available evidence to inform their efforts to prevent substance-related harms and evaluate these activities.
The Tobacco, Vaping and Cannabis program provides curriculum resources/lesson plans and other materials that can be used to enhance student’s knowledge, attitudes and skills related to preventing nicotine use, visit Tobacco & Vaping Resources for Teachers.
Action plans and strategies across the education system can prevent substance-related harms in youth. For more information, review Blueprint for Action: Preventing Substance-Related Harms Among Youth Through a Comprehensive School Health Approach.
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is an essential foundation for tobacco, vaping, and cannabis prevention. SEL helps students build skills to make healthy decisions around substance use. Learn more with resources from the Government of Alberta:
Youth voice is a powerful force in smoking and vaping prevention. Get to the know the Tobacco Warriors, a group of young adults from across Alberta’s three Treaty areas. With guidance from Elders and Knowledge Teachers, they’re helping kids and teens learn about role of tobacco in First Nations culture and ceremony. They’re using social media to encourage youth to stay free from commercial tobacco.
