Healthy Schools Newsletter
From Hastings Prince Edward Public Health January 2024 | Vaping/tobacco cessation and prevention | Zonnic and oral nicotine pouches In July 2023, Health Canada approved a new vaping/tobacco cessation product: Zonnic. There are preliminary reports that young people are using these products recreationally, in addition to smoking and vaping. HPEPH staff working in schools can confirm that these products are being used by young people in our jurisdiction. What can educators & administrators do? - Learn about the product to help guide discussions with students.
- Because these oral nicotine pouches do not contain tobacco, they are not considered a tobacco product, and do not fall under any existing federal or provincial tobacco or vaping legislation. They are considered a Natural Health Product, which means there is no legal age of purchase, and there are no restrictions on where these products can be sold.
- While they have been approved as a cessation option, it is likely that young people will use them recreationally, and not for quitting smoking.
- Set clear expectations regarding the recreational use of all nicotine products including oral nicotine pouches.
- Public Health encourages administrators to review their Student Codes of Conduct and associated substance use or possession policies to ensure they align with the current knowledge of providing supportive environments for students and protection from harms of nicotine, including emerging nicotine products.
For more insight into how these products became available in Canada, and the insidious marketing practises of their manufacturers, visit: ‘We were duped’: Health minister vows to close ‘loophole’ on flavoured nicotine pouches. | #HPEQuits2024 HPEPH is offering a vape/smoke-free challenge for students in our region. The #HPEQuits2024 challenge encourages secondary school students in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties (HPEC) to participate in one of two challenge categories: “Quit and Win” or “Don’t Start and Win”. The challenge encourages all registrants to quit or remain vape/smoke-free for the month of February. Registration will start in early January, with a final push during National Non-Smoking Week (January 22 to 26). This contest aims to increase the number of quit attempts among HPE youth, which will ultimately decrease the number of youths who vape or smoke. It also employs the tactic of having youth pledge to abstain from vaping/smoking – a known intervention in substance use-prevention. A total of 10 grand prizes per category will be awarded as well as multiple secondary prizes. Prizes will be supplied by HPEPH. Winners will be chosen by random draw and will be contacted by a public health nurse from HPEPH to declare their smoking/vaping status. Keep an eye out for promotional materials and consider how you could help spread the word online, or in your school during National Non-Smoking Week! For more information on this challenge, connect with your school Public Health Nurse or Health Promoter. | For administrators - Draft school newsletter content for vaping and smoking cessation is available on our Substance Use, Addiction, and Related Behaviours Resources page. Schools can support this content with postcards and poster graphics specific to students from the Not an Experiment campaign or images from the Lung Health Foundation's Quash App.
- Public Health is mandated to enforce the Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA), 2017, within its jurisdiction of Hastings and Prince Edward Counties which includes school grounds. To learn more about Tobacco Laws and Enforcement visit our Tobacco Laws and Enforcement page, contact the Tobacco Talk Line at 613-966-5513 or 1-800-267-2803, ext. 600, or email the Tobacco Talk Line at ttl@hpeph.ca.
- For incidents of smoking/vaping tobacco, E-cigarettes, or cannabis on school property, or within 20 metres of school property, please complete the School Incident Report form to report the occurrence to our enforcement officers. This report also applies to witnessing the sale of tobacco, cannabis, or e-cigarettes on, or near, school property to those under 19 years of age.
| Home, school and community partnership Post on your school socials! HPEPH has created social media messaging around smoking and vaping that you can cut, paste, and post as appropriate for your school community. Use one of the messages below or visit our Substance Use, Addiction, and Related Behaviour Resource page for a full list. - Trying to #quitsmoking and want to track your progress? There’s an app for that! Download the Quash App for continuous support. Visit quashapp.com to learn more.
- DYK nearly 1/4 of high school students have tried vaping? Vaping is not harmless. There’s growing evidence that youth who vape go on to smoke cigarettes. If you don’t vape, don’t start. If you want to quit, contact your school public health nurse or your healthcare provider.
- DYK that at least 70 of the chemicals in cigarettes have been proven to cause cancer? Quit smoking or vaping now and you’ll start feeling better within 24 hours. For more information or to find support, visit quashapp.com talk to your school nurse, or call 613-966-5500, ext. 600.
| Looking to promote information to your school community on another topic? Visit our Newsletters and Social Media page for newsletters inserts, social media messages, and school announcements that be easily “cut and pasted” into your school promotional materials. | Straw Breathing Activity This activity helps illustrate the effects of smoking and vaping on the lungs (Grade 4/5). - Explain to students that lungs are in our chest, protected by our rib cage. The apex (very top) of our lungs is found underneath our collarbone and the base of the lungs rests on top of our diaphragm.
- Ask students to place their hands on their ribs and take a deep breath in, noticing how their rib cage expands while their lungs fill with oxygen. Have them exhale and feel their rib cage return to its regular size.
- Pass out paper straws (one per student). Instruct the students to take three deep breaths through their mouth/nose. Then ask them to do the same again, breathing only through the straw.
- Discuss with students which was easier (breathing normally or through the straw). Make the connection that breathing is made harder by the effects of tobacco and vaping.
Tag us! @hpepublichealth. | - Jan 8 - Feb 29: #HPEQuits2024 – see above for more information.
- January 22 - 26: National Non-Smoking Week – Highlight the risks of smoking, help-non smokers abstain from smoking, prevent addiction to tobacco, and help people quit smoking.
- January 24: Weedless Wednesday – Encourage those who smoke or vape to abstain from using any tobacco or cannabis products for one full day.
- January 24: Bell Let’s Talk Day – Promote mental health awareness, acceptance, and action to make a difference for mental health.
| Stay tuned for our February newsletter, which will feature information, announcements, and resources for students, staff, and families about sexual health and healthy relationships. | Contact Information: For other questions about Healthy Schools: healthyschools@hpeph.ca You have received this email at from Hastings Prince Edward Public Health as a result of a request you have made or due to a service/subscription that you are registered for. While you may discontinue your subscription to this mailing at any time by pressing the unsubscribe button below, please note that this bulletin will be used to provide important updates. | | | | |
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