School board partners with health unit to raise awareness about rise of teen vaping

FILE - A teenager holds a smoked e-cigarette in his hand while sitting in a hidden corner with his friends at school. (charinporn thayot/Getty Images)

Avon Maitland District School Board and Huron Perth Public Health have partnered to raise awareness about youth vaping, as well as the impacts of technology and social media.

According to a survey conducted in 2023, Huron Perth youth are vaping more than the provincial average rate, and less than 1 per cent are meeting screen time recommendations.

The hope is that by raising awareness among parents, students may have a better chance of beating those odds. Avon Maitland District School Board is hosting film screenings for families - the film ‘Screenagers: Growing up in the Digital Age’ will be displayed at schools in Clinton, Listowel, Stratford, and Clinton.

The board is also launching an anti-vaping campaign to raise awareness about the risks of vaping, as well as provide resources for quitting, and give parents and guardians strategies to discuss the issue with young people.

More information is available on their website.