Grant: Catalyst Grant: Health Effects of Vaping

An increasing number of young Canadians are using e-cigarettes, which may pose significant health risks. With the recent legalization of cannabis vape products in Canada, there are concerns that even more youth and young adults may engage in vaping and experience poor health outcomes. In order to develop education and policies around cannabis vaping that reflect the reality of youth and young adults, our proposed study aims to understand, in their own words, their experiences, beliefs, and decision-making associated with cannabis vaping. We will hold focus groups with a total of 40-50 individuals aged 12-25 years and living in Manitoba that will explore their experiences of using vaped cannabis products, their beliefs about the possible risks and benefits of vaping cannabis, and what factors influenced their decision to vape cannabis. Efforts will be made to invite a diverse group of youth and young adults, including those from the Indigenous/Métis communities and living in rural and remote regions of the province. A brief survey will assess individuals' vaping behaviour related to cannabis and other substances and personal information, such as their age, gender, and ethnicity. The survey data will be summarized using descriptive statistics, and the focus group data will be reviewed, compared, and organized into key themes and ideas. A Youth Advisory Committee will meet throughout the study and provide advice about how the study is conducted and help create strategies to share the study findings with youth and young adults in Manitoba and beyond. The results of this study will inform future education and decision support tools related to cannabis vaping and act as a catalyst for a larger national study that will guide public health policies related to cannabis and vaping.