Hastings and Prince Edward Counties/March 26, 2024
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is excited to announce the results of #HPEQuits – the quit vaping or smoking contest for local secondary school students that ran during the month of February. The contest aimed to raise awareness of the negative effects of vaping and tobacco use and to empower students to make quit attempts, thereby improving their short and long-term health.
This was a great response from secondary school students across Hastings & Prince Edward, with a total of 432 participants: 20 per cent in the quit category, and 80 per cent in the abstain category. “Each of the 10 publicly funded secondary schools in HPE were represented in both contest categories, which we found both encouraging and inspiring,” notes Sheryl Farrar, Healthy Schools Manager at HPEPH. The percentage of students in each category aligns with available evidence which shows about 20 per cent of secondary students are using vaping devices.
#HPEQuits was promoted both online and at schools throughout the month of January, with morning announcements, posters and in-person events during National Non-Smoking Week. Students were encouraged to use January to prepare to quit use of vapes, tobacco products, or nicotine pouches and then be vape/smoke free during the month of February. Research shows that young people who vape or smoke need opportunities to practice quitting and those who do not use nicotine products benefit from being rewarded for positive health choices.
HPEPH awarded several prizes to the winners of each category. School-based nurses have noted an increased interest in quitting vaping among students and that students have identified success with using peer support, changing routines and finding distraction techniques. Students shared that while the behaviour change was difficult, they are already noticing breathing improvements and even increased energy levels! By demonstrating great resolve to either break their nicotine dependence or continue to not use these products, all #HPEQuits participants should consider themselves winners.
The participation of these students demonstrates that students are recognizing the negative effects of use and are motivated to quit. We hope that the contest encourages all youth to make the healthy choice to stop vaping or using tobacco products or stay vape/smoke free.
HPEPH encourages caring adults to talk to the young people in their lives about not using tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products and seeking help to quit if needed. Students can visit the Public Health Nurse at their school, and adults and youth can also call the Tobacco Talk Line at 613-966-5500, ext. 600. For more information visit HPEPH Vaping or Drug Free Kids Canada. Thank you to our education partners for supporting this initiative for local youth.
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Maureen Hyland, Communications Specialist
hyland.maureen@hpeph.ca
About Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is a public health agency that serves the counties of Hastings and Prince Edward from four local offices. HPEPH is situated and provides services on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee people. We monitor the health of our local population, deliver programs and services within our communities, and help develop healthy public policies. We provide information and support in many areas to help improve the health and well-being of our residents. Together with our communities, we help people become as healthy as they can be. For more information, please visit hpePublicHealth.ca. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
