Grant: Project Grant - PA: Population and Public Health - Early Career Investigator

How common is vaping among Canadians? Does e-cigarette use vary by province and between communities? What community risks are associated with vaping? Do rates of vaping differ across areas with higher or lower poverty, inequality, and tobacco use rates? Despite the availability of data to answer these questions, there remain many knowledge gaps related to vaping across Canada's diverse communities, particularly among youth and marginalized populations. Inconsistencies in Provincial and Territorial policies and regulations related to the sale and marketing of vaping products have resulted in considerable variations in the geography and patterns of vaping use across Canadian communities. The popularity and availability of e-cigarettes and other vaping products in Canada have increased steadily over the past decade. Increases have been most notable in younger populations, and this is concerning given that we now know vaping to be associated with many significant health risks. A better understanding of regional, demographic and social patterns associated with vaping in Canada is essential to help target prevention and harm reduction efforts, and to revise policies. We will use existing data from national health surveys to examine patterns of vaping across Canada and Canadian communities, as well as the impact of policies and regulations on vaping use. From our findings, we will develop a detailed online data atlas of vaping product use across Canada that will answer the needs and questions of health care providers, policy planners, researchers, and the public.