Smoke floating in the air.

Smoking, Chewing and Vaping Tobacco

Home Health and Wellness Alcohol, Drugs and SmokingSmoking, Chewing and Vaping Tobacco

Tobacco is the biggest preventable cause of death in Canada

13,000 Ontarians die every year from tobacco use.

"Smoking" means smoking (inhaling and exhaling) or holding lighted tobacco or cannabis (medical or recreational).

Smoking harms almost every organ in the body and causes negative health effects, including:

Many types of cancer (including lung and oral cancers)
Heart disease
Stroke and circulatory problems
Chronic lung diseases, such as:
- Chronic bronchitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Emphysema
Tooth loss and gum disease

Vaping

"Vaping" means inhaling or exhaling vapour from an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or holding an activated e-cigarette, whether or not the vapour contains nicotine.

Vaping doesn’t require burning like cigarette smoking. The device heats a liquid into a vapour, which then turns into aerosol. This vapour is often flavoured and can contain nicotine. E-cigarettes come in many shapes and sizes. Most have a battery, a heating element and a place to hold a liquid. Some e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some look like USB flash drives, pens and other everyday items. Larger devices such as tank systems, or “mods”, do not look like other tobacco products.

Vaping devices

There are two kinds of vaping devices:

open, which means they can be refilled
closed, which means either the whole product, or the part that holds the vaping substances, can’t be refilled

Open vaping devices are used to vape everything from e-juices to cannabis. E-juices can contain nicotine with different levels of nicotine strength in addition it also contains a number of chemicals with known toxicity (e.g. formaldehyde and acrolein).

Health effects

Although the health effects of e-cigarettes are uncertain, long term exposure to e-cigarette vapour may be harmful to health.

Chemicals found in many e-juices have been linked to severe respiratory disease (popcorn lung) including coughing, wheezing and worsening of asthma, heart disease and eye irritation.
Many e-juices contain nicotine and students using them are at risk of becoming addicted.
Nicotine can alter teen brain development and can affect memory and concentration.

In some cases, vaping liquid containers have enough nicotine to be poisonous and toxic.

Quit smoking

Quitting smoking has many benefits. It lowers your risk for diseases caused by smoking. We have information and resources to help you, or someone you know, to quit smoking. It takes practice. Don't give up if you are not successful the first time.

What is the single best thing you can do to quit smoking

Benefits of quitting smoking

Quitting smoking has short- and long-term benefits to your health:

Within 20 minutes of quitting blood pressure decreases; your pulse returns to normal.
After eight hours carbon monoxide levels decrease in your body.
After 24 hours, your chances of having a heart attack decrease.
After 48 hours, your sense of smell and taste will improve.
After four days, your lung capacity will increase.
Within two weeks to three months, your blood circulation will increase.
In one to nine months your coughing, fatigue and shortness of breath will decrease.
After one year, your risk of having a heart attack is cut in half.

In addition to your health, there are even more benefits to you when you quit smoking.

Financial benefits of quitting

Smoking is an expensive habit. When you quit smoking, you will save all the money you used to spend on cigarettes. Your home and car resale value will also go up from getting rid of the cigarette smoke smell.

Improve your appearance and smell

Quitting smoking means:

You will not have yellow stains on fingers and teeth.
You will stop smelling like smoke and will stop having smoker's breath.
Your skin tone and colour will improve.
You will be less likely to get wrinkles around your mouth.

Be a role model and protect your loved ones

Smoking impacts those around you. By quitting you will be a role model for your children and family. You will also stop creating dangerous second hand smoke. You will be protecting your children, family, friends and pets.

Sexual performance and fertility

Quitting smoking may improve your sex life. Quitting lowers your risks of erectile dysfunction or infertility.

Smoking and your social life

Smoking has an impact on your social life. Quitting smoking means people will stop nagging you to quit. It means you won't have to stand outside in the cold for a smoke.

Making a quit plan

Making a quit smoking plan helps you increase your chances of staying quit. You can plan ahead to deal with cravings and avoid trigger situations.

Managing cravings

When cravings happen remember the four D's:

Drink water.
Delay smoking for 10 minutes.
A craving only lasts as long as it takes to smoke one cigarette.
Distract yourself from the craving with something else.
Deep breathe.
Breathe in through the abdomen. Pull up into the lungs. Repeat.

You may have a stronger addiction to nicotine if you "need" a cigarette within the first 30 minutes of waking up, and if it is very hard to go more than an hour without a cigarette.

Vaping products and e-cigarettes deliver nicotine in a less harmful way than smoking and may reduce health risks for people who are unwilling or unable to:

quit on their own
quit using approved nicotine replacement therapies (such as gums, lozenges and patches) or medication
quit using counselling

Talk to your health care provider or pharmacist about nicotine replacement therapies such as nicotine patches, gum, lozenges or an inhaler.

Plan for triggers

Some common danger zones to plan for:

Alcohol

Alcohol is big trigger for many people.
Try to avoid alcohol. It lowers your chances of quitting.

Other smokers

Being around other people who smoke can tempt you to smoke.
Consider a temporary vacation from other smokers while you are quitting. Ask them not to smoke around you.

Environment

Get rid of all cigarettes, ashtrays, matches or lighters and things that remind you of smoking.
Clean your car and home.
Consider keeping them both smoke-free.

Weight gain

Some weight gain is normal when quitting smoking.
Eat a healthy diet, stay active and do not let weight gain distract you from your main goal.
Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about weight.

Stress and coping

Smoking does not reduce stress as many people think. It actually increases your stress response. It increases your pulse and blood pressure. When quitting it is important to reduce stress and choose healthy coping to help you quit:

Make sure you are not under more stress than usual when you pick your quit date.
Practice different coping mechanisms, like deep breathing, walking and yoga.
Try using a healthy alternative to cigarettes, like eating carrot sticks, chewing sugar-free gum or exercising.

Positive thinking and celebrating

Find alternative activities that give you pleasure, such as spending time with family or friends.
Put encouraging and positive sticky notes in places where you used to smoke.
Plan to reward yourself for each goal you reach (e.g. save the money you would have used for cigarettes and put it in a jar to save for something to reward yourself).

8 Tips to help you quit smoking

Community supports and resources

Resources and services available in the community to help you successfully quit smoking

Individual counselling

A trained therapist provides individual counselling. They often work in one or more face-to-face sessions to help smokers quit. Contact your health care provider or pharmacist and make an appointment to discuss your options.

Telephone counselling

Counselling is provided by telephone to help people stop smoking. Multiple sessions have been found to be most effective.

Smokers' Helpline is a free, confidential counselling service offering support and information about quitting smoking and tobacco use. It is available seven days a week by phone and online.
Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Call: 1-877-513-5333

Kids Help Phone is free, anonymous and confidential counselling services for youth aged 20 and under. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by phone and online. Call 1-800-668-6868.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)

NRT helps reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. NRT is available as a patch, gum, inhaler, lozenges and spray, which are available over-the-counter. Speak to your pharmacist or health care provider for more information.

Medications for quitting smoking

Medications such as bupropion and varenicline can increase your chances of quitting. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if these options are right for you.

Quit smoking group program

Group programs help people in their attempt to stop smoking and increase chances of quitting by double.

More information and services

Call the Durham Health Connection Line to talk to a public health nurse for support with quitting.
Receive support at Carea Community Health Centre from health care professionals with quitting smoking through counselling and quit smoking support groups.
Quit4Life is a program designed to help youth quit smoking cigarettes or using other tobacco products.
Pinewood Addiction Support Services (PASS) and Withdrawal Management Program offers community support for addictions and accommodate housing for a couple of days. The services are for people who are 16 and older. Call 905-723-8195 or visit 300 Centre Street South, Oshawa.

Second-hand smoke

Second-hand smoke is the smoke that is blown into the air, and the smoke that enters the air from the burning end of cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos and hand-rolled cigarettes.

The dangers of second-hand smoke

Second-hand smoke is dangerous. Each year in Canada 300 non-smokers will die from lung cancer because of second-hand smoke. There is no safe level of exposure:

There are more than 7,000 chemicals in second-hand smoke.
At least 69 of these can cause cancer.
Going into another room or opening the window will not protect your family from its harmful effects.
Outdoor levels of second-hand smoke within one to two metres of a lit cigarette can be as high as indoor levels.

Exposure to second-hand smoke can cause heart disease and lung cancer in adults.

It has also been linked to:

Breast cancer
Stroke
Nasal sinus cancer
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Acute respiratory symptoms (cough, wheeze, chest tightness, difficulty breathing)
Onset and worsening of asthma

In children, exposure to second-hand smoke can cause:

Decreased lung function
Low birth weight
Bronchitis, pneumonia and other lower respiratory diseases
Worsening of asthma
Middle ear disease

It has also been linked to childhood cancer (leukemias, lymphomas, brain tumours), onset of asthma, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Third-hand smoke

Third-hand smoke contains all the chemicals of second-hand smoke and it also clings to all surfaces like:

Furniture
Carpeting
Walls
Food
Clothing
Skin and hair

Third-hand smoke builds up on these surfaces over time and puts children, infants and pets at a greater risk for exposure than adults.

Make your home or car smoke-free

Making your home or car smoke-free protects you and your family from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

Making your home smoke-free

When you make your home smoke-free, you protect those who live with you. You also help yourself to quit smoking by reducing the triggers around you. Opening a window or going into another room does not protect your family from second-hand smoke.

Use these tips to make your home smoke-free:

Make your outside smoking area as comfortable as possible and pick a place where smoke will not drift back into the house through a window or door.
Display a smoke-free home sign as a reminder to friends or family that your home is smoke-free and provide a comfortable place for them to smoke.
Time your smoking to other outings (e.g. getting the mail, running errands) if you live in an apartment building.
Find a trusted family member or neighbour to watch young children so they are not alone when you go to smoke outside and offer to do the same for them.
Set a date for your home to become smoke-free. Choosing a memorable date like a birthday or holiday can help.

Smoke-free apartments, condos and townhomes

If you live in an apartment, condo or townhome, you may have second-hand smoke coming into your home from your neighbour's unit. The Smoke-Free Ontario act protects people from second-hand smoke in public places such as common areas (hallways, stairwells, laundry rooms) in apartments and condominiums.

However, second-hand smoke can travel through:

Ventilation systems
Open windows or doors
Electrical outlets, cable or phone jacks or ceiling fixtures
Cracks and gaps around sinks, countertops, floors, walls or dropped ceilings
A neighbour's patio or balcony

An Ontario survey (2010) found that:

42 per cent of people have smelled second-hand smoke in their unit within the past six months.
82 per cent of these people said that the second-hand smoke bothered them.
80 per cent of people would prefer a smoke-free building if they were able to choose from two buildings that were the same.

This is a problem for many people especially those with asthma, allergies, lung disease, heart disease or diabetes. For children, this also increases the risk of many health problems.

Private units in apartments, condos or townhomes can be made smoke-free. Landlords have the legal right to designate their building as smoke-free housing and a right to protect their property.

Learn more about making your apartment, condominium or townhome smoke-free:

Making your car smoke-free

When you smoke in the car, everybody in the car smokes. Opening a window does not reduce the effects of second-hand smoke.

Use these tips to make your car smoke-free:

Keep a warm jacket and umbrella in the car or stop at a place with an outdoor sheltered area if possible.
Remove the cigarette lighter from your car and fill the ashtray with gum or coins.
Put your cigarettes in the trunk, out of reach.
Put a smoke-free sticker on your window to let friends or family know your car is smoke-free and stop for cigarette breaks.
Plan cigarette breaks when you stop for food or gas when going on a long trip.

If you're alone in the car with young children you can turn off the car, step outside and stand where you can see the children to take your smoke break. Never leave the car running with children inside.

Tobacco-free living

The majority of people who use tobacco wish they never started and would like to quit.

Youth

A majority of smokers begin smoking and vaping in their teen years. Youth are targeted by the media through movies and new products and packaging. The tobacco and vaping industry uses creative marketing strategies like adding flavours and introducing new products. These may appeal to youth and attract them to start using tobacco and vapour products. This is so they can continue to make money.

Youth opportunities

We are looking for youth who are interested in getting involved in tobacco prevention initiatives and/or advocating for tobacco control policies in Durham Region. We work with community youth agencies and youth volunteers (ages 13 to 24 and connected to a participating community youth agency) to engage youth in decreasing tobacco use in the community.

This programming is currently being funded by the Smoke-Free Ontario's Youth Engagement Strategy. Many smokers start in their teen years. Efforts to denormalize tobacco use and decrease negative role modelling are important to protect youth and young adults from future smoking and addiction.

Learn more about the campaigns you can help work on:

Smoke-free movies is the Ontario Coalition for Smoke-Free Movies who aim to get tobacco out of youth-rated movies in Ontario to protect children. They want to protect youth from exposure to on-screen tobacco. Smoking in movies gives youth the message that smoking is a normal and desirable activity.

Know what's in your mouth is a campaign designed by youth for youth to raise awareness about the dangers of chewing tobacco. Many young people have the misconception that smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco, snuff) is less harmful compared to cigarettes or not harmful at all.

If you are interested in getting involved with these initiatives contact the Durham Health Connection Line.

Young adults

Young adulthood can be a stressful time which can increase your chances of starting to smoke or increase the amount you smoke. Getting support early on can help prevent or reduce the harmful effects of smoking on your body. We have information to help you quit smoking or reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke.

More information and support is available through:

Pregnant women

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your baby. Smoking and second-hand smoke are harmful to you and your baby because when a women smokes or breathes in second-hand smoke, the baby does also.

This causes negative health effects on the baby and increased risks such as:

Possibility of miscarriage.
Complications during pregnancy.
Premature labour and birth.
Baby having a low birth weight.
Possibility of your baby being born with cleft lip or cleft palate (it has been linked to mothers who smoke during pregnancy).
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Breastfeeding and smoking

The breast milk of smoking mothers and non-smoking mothers who are exposed to second-hand smoke has been found to have nicotine and other dangerous chemicals in cigarette smoke. If you continue to smoke, you should not smoke around your baby or have a cigarette before breastfeeding your baby. Breastfeeding is still best for your baby even if you continue to smoke.

For more information:

Parents

Children and teens are influenced by their parents, peers and what they see in movies. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the more youth see onscreen smoking, the more likely they are to start.

In Ontario the Film Review Board determines ratings on films (i.e. general admission, parental guidance, 18 Adult, etc.). In order to determine ratings the Ontario Film Review Board (OFRB) considers language, nudity, violence, sexual activity, horror and psychological impact. The OFRB does not consider smoking when assigning ratings to movies.

Most movies with smoking are rated for kids and teens in Ontario.

As a parent you can:

Talk to your children and teens about what they are seeing in movies.
Let them know about the health risks of smoking.
Choose smoke-free movies for your children.
Advocate for changes to how the Ontario Film Review Board rates movies with smoking scenes.
Learn more facts about smoking in movies.

Schools

Smoking and vaping is not allowed on public areas within 20 metres from the perimeter of the grounds of elementary and secondary schools.

Teachers have one of the most influential roles in a student's life and are able to support students in quitting smoking.

We have information and supports to help you.

Workplaces

Tobacco-free workplaces save lives and money. In Durham Region 16 per cent of adults continue to smoke daily at work. Eight per cent of adult non-smokers report being exposed to second-hand smoke at their workplace.

Bystanders can also be exposed to vapour that is exhaled by users. The health effects to non-users from exposure to second-hand vapour are still unknown. Vaping products should be used with caution around non-users and youth. (Health Canada).

Your workplace can:

Support employees who are trying to quit smoking.
Motivate current smokers to think about quitting or smoking less.
Prevent non-smokers from starting to smoke.
Attract non-smokers to your workplace.
Protect the health of all of your workers.
Reduce your maintenance and insurance costs.

Order tobacco-free workplace resources

Smoking, vaping and the law

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA) bans smoking and vaping in all enclosed workplaces, enclosed public spaces and other designated places. This is to protect workers and the public from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and vapour. The Smoke-Free Ontario (SFO) strategy uses programs, policies, laws and public education to:

Help smokers quit.
Protect people from exposure to second-hand smoke from tobacco, vapour products and cannabis.
Encourage young people to never start smoking.

Ontario regulation 268/18.

Durham Region's Smoke-Free By-Law

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act affects many retailers and public spaces

Retailers of tobacco and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes)

Tobacco retailers

Tobacco retailers have the legal responsibility to ensure that they understand and comply with the requirements under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.

Learn more about how the law affects tobacco retailers:

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) retailers

The Electronic Cigarettes Act (effective January 1, 2016) bans the sale and supply of e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 19 in Ontario. This includes all types of e-cigarettes and vapes. E-cigarette retailers must make sure they understand and comply with the requirements under this act.

Ontario Regulation 337/15

Flavoured tobacco products

The SFOA includes rules and restrictions on the sale, use and display of flavoured tobacco products. A flavoured tobacco product refers to one or more ingredients in a tobacco product that gives an aroma or flavour other than tobacco before or during use of the product.

Hospitals and hospital properties

Smoking and vaping is not allowed on the outdoor grounds of a hospital and the area within a nine metre radius surrounding any entrance or exit.

Learn more about where you can’t smoke or vape in Ontario.

Workplaces

Government buildings

Smoking and vaping is not allowed on the outdoor grounds of an office building that is owned by the Province.

Learn more about where you can’t smoke or vape in Ontario.

Restaurant and bar patios

It is illegal to smoke and vape on all restaurants and bar patios including nine metres from the edge of the patio. Restaurant and bar owners or employees are required to understand and comply with these smoking laws.

Learn more about where you can’t smoke or vape in Ontario.

Sporting areas and community recreational facilities

Smoking and vaping is not allowed at publicly-owned sporting or spectator areas and public areas within 20 metres of the edge of the sporting or spectator areas next to a sporting area.

Smoking and vaping is not allowed on the outdoor grounds of a community recreational facility and public areas within 20 metres of any point on the edge of the grounds.

Learn more about where you can’t smoke or vape in Ontario.

Children's playgrounds

Smoking and vaping is not allowed on children's playgrounds or in public spaces within 20 metres of the edge of a children’s playground.

Learn more about where you can’t smoke or vape in Ontario.

Smoking, Chewing and Vaping Tobacco

Tobacco is the biggest preventable cause of death in Canada

Smoking harms almost every organ in the body and causes negative health effects, including:

Vaping

There are two kinds of vaping devices:

Quit smoking

Quitting smoking has short- and long-term benefits to your health:

In addition to your health, there are even more benefits to you when you quit smoking.

Quitting smoking means:

When cravings happen remember the four D's:

Some common danger zones to plan for:

Alcohol

Other smokers

Environment

Weight gain

Stress and coping

Positive thinking and celebrating

Resources and services available in the community to help you successfully quit smoking

Individual counselling

Telephone counselling

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)

Medications for quitting smoking

Quit smoking group program

More information and services

Second-hand smoke

It has also been linked to:

In children, exposure to second-hand smoke can cause:

Third-hand smoke contains all the chemicals of second-hand smoke and it also clings to all surfaces like:

Make your home or car smoke-free

Use these tips to make your home smoke-free:

However, second-hand smoke can travel through:

An Ontario survey (2010) found that:

Learn more about making your apartment, condominium or townhome smoke-free:

Use these tips to make your car smoke-free:

Tobacco-free living

Youth opportunities

Learn more about the campaigns you can help work on:

More information and support is available through:

This causes negative health effects on the baby and increased risks such as:

For more information:

As a parent you can:

Your workplace can:

Smoking, vaping and the law

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act affects many retailers and public spaces

Learn more about how the law affects tobacco retailers:

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