An assessment of provincial policy and youth vaping rates in Alberta
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Date
2025
Authors
Hepp, Amanda
University of Lethbridge. Facutly of Health Sciences
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Health Sciences
Abstract
To date, no research has examined the impact of the new youth vaping policy in Alberta
which was implemented July 2021. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in youth
vaping and purchasing patterns in Alberta following the new legislation. Cross-sectional data
collected before and after the policy's implementation were compared. Additionally, differences
between sex, gender, and grade level were evaluated.
Cross-sectional data were obtained through two cycles of the Canadian Student Tobacco
Alcohol and Drugs Survey from students in grades 7 through 12 in 2018/19 and 2021/22 (pooled
n = 15,578). The samples were weighted to represent youth in Alberta in each period. Changes in
vaping prevalence and underage purchases between survey waves were analyzed using
proportions and logistic regression models adjusted for confounders.
In Alberta, there was a 5.1% reduction in the prevalence of youth vaping following 2021
legislation to restrict this activity. The weighed proportion of students who vaped decreased from
19.9% in 2018/19 to 14.8% in 2021/22. After adjustment for confounders, there was a
statistically significant reduction on past 30-day vape use between survey waves (OR: 0.65, 99%
CI: 0.56–0.76). This decrease was more pronounced in males and students in grades 10–12. In
2018/19, 12.6% of youth purchased vape products underage and this slightly increased to 13.3%
in 2021/22, however, these changes, including stratification by sex/gender, were not statistically
significant.
There was a statistically significant decline in youth vaping between survey waves,
particularly among older youth and males, during the introduction of a new prevention policy.
However, unmeasured factors such as societal trends and cultural norms may have also played a
role.
Description
Keywords
public policy , legislation , e-cigarette , vape , Alberta , youth , adolescent , assessment , Canada