Tobacco & Vaping

Classroom Activities

• Check out Not An Experiment’s - Educators webpage for classroom games, activities, and school resources
• Visit the Unfiltered Facts website to implement the “Use Your Instincts” vaping prevention campaign and learn how to counter industry manipulation. Adult allies can download campaign posters(PDF, 8.78 MB) directly and access other campaign files in the “Resource Hub” by entering password UFFHAMONT24
• The Stanford Medicine-The Tobacco Prevention Toolkit includes resources on vaping for educators
• The Lung Health Foundation’s Talking About series is an educational resource that helps leaders address lung health issues with youth. The series includes a set of activity guides to help facilitate critical discussion with young people in a fun and informative manner
• Play a substance use Kahoot trivia game from Hamilton Public Health Services’ Tobacco__Control Kahoot channel
• Watch the FDA’s My Vaping Mistake video series to hear teens share their experiences and explain how vaping has negatively affected their lives

Additional Teacher Resources

• Review Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction’s Substance Use Educators Guide for resources and videos that help educators increase their knowledge and confidence in talking to youth about substance use
• Visit Ophea for Vaping Education Resources including instructional moments and conversation starter videos for students in grade 4-8
• The School Mental Health Ontario website has vaping factsheets for elementary and secondary educators and students
• HPHS & HWDSB collaborated to create ready-to-implement Grade 5-8 Substance Use, Addictions, and Related Behaviour curriculum that is aligned with the Ontario Health & Physical Education (2019) standards. Click to access Grade 5(PDF, 545.69 KB), Grade 6(PDF, 4.35 MB), Grade 7(PDF, 500 KB) or Grade 8(PDF, 442.63 KB) units.

• Learn more about the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 – How the Act Affects Schools and the City of Hamilton Smoking By-Law
• Conduct a policy review and advocate for updates/revisions to policies surrounding smoking and vaping on school property, school trips and events
• Explore the development of innovative board/school level policies surrounding smoking and vaping. Ideas can include: smoke-free movies/media, tobacco free sports, tobacco related litter policies, and tobacco/vape possession policies
• Communicate these school policies through parent council meetings, school announcements, agendas, and newsletters
• Register your school for Healthy Schools Certification to engage the whole school community to promote and enhance the health and well-being of students, school staff, and the broader community

• Follow @HamOntYouth to find ways to get involved in the community
• Follow @unfiltered_facts to join youth engaged with public health using education and advocacy to provide peers with the unfiltered facts about health issues that affect them
• Participate in Lung Health Foundation’s Youth Advocates e-modules to gain the knowledge and skills needed to become a health advocate and take action on issues like smoking and vaping

• Enforcement of Smoke-Free Ontario Act
  • To report smoking/vaping on school property or other violations of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act call the Tobacco Hotline at: 905-540-5566
• Visit Health Canada – Consider the Consequences of Vaping for materials to use in schools (i.e., mirror clings and posters)
• Refer to the Protect Our World Toolkit for interactive and educational activities to increase understanding of the impact tobacco has on our environment

Local Cessation Support

• Alternatives for Youth offers substance misuse counselling for youth aged 12-25 years and those who care for them.
• Visit Hamilton.ca/quitsmoking to learn about various quit methods, programs, and services.
• The CAMH Youth-VAST program provides in-person and virtual treatment for youth (ages 12 to 21) across Ontario who are facing challenges related to vaping, substance use, and/or technology use. Individuals can self-refer directly to the program.

Cessation Apps

• Check out Quash to learn about quitting and download the app to create a custom quit plan for smoking or vaping
• Download the Stop Vaping Challenge App (Android / Apple), an app designed to help youth reflect on vaping behaviours and patterns that encourages quitting with friends.

Additional Support and Resources

• Refer to Health Canada’s Talking to your child about vaping: A tip sheet for parents, for information and ideas for engaging with your child regarding the issue of vaping
• Visit the Not An Experiment – Parents webpage for information and tips for having conversations with you about vaping
• Contact Kids Help Phone by calling 1-800-668-6868 or texting 686868 for 24 hour/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth