Smoke floating in the air.

Smoking and Vaping Tobacco

Home Health and Wellness Alcohol, Cannabis, Drugs and SmokingSmoking 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.

Consider the consequences of vaping.

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 including coughing, wheezing and worsening of asthma, heart disease and eye irritation.
Many e-juices contain nicotine and youth 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.
Do something else. Distract yourself from the craving.
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 a 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.

Telehealth Ontario. Call 1-866-797-0000

Provides evidence-informed smoking cessation supports and information.
Supports callers through follow-up calls where additional supports and coaching are required.
Offers callers access to a Telehealth Ontario nurse to address any symptoms identified during the interaction.

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.

Smokers Helpline

First Week Challenge Contest
SmokersHelpline.ca community of quitters, moderated by Smokers’ Helpline quit coaches
Email support - register through SmokersHelpline.ca
Text messaging and Live CHAT with a Smokers’ Helpline quit coach
Text the word iQuit to the number 123456

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 support groups.
Quit4Life is a program designed to help youth quit smoking cigarettes or using other tobacco products.
Pinewood Addiction Support Services (PASS) offers community support for addictions. Residential Withdrawal Management Services (RWMS) offers short-term, residential support to individuals withdrawing from substances. The services are for people who are 18 and older. Located at 300 Centre Street South, Oshawa. Call 905-721-4747 or 1-888-881-8878 (toll free).

Second-hand smoke

Second-hand smoke is tobacco smoke inhaled by people who are not actively engaged in smoking, which consists of the smoke that a smoker breathes out, as well as the smoke that drifts into the air from the burning end of a cigarette, or other smoking device (cigar, pipe, bidi, etc.).

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 70 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

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.

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

Tips for parents for talking with your child or teen about vaping and smoking:

Stay connected

Talk with your child about their thoughts about vaping and smoking.

Be positive

Build trust by listening with an open mind: try not to frighten or lecture your child when talking about vaping and smoking.

Focus on safety

Be prepared with facts about vaping and smoking so that you can answer their questions.

Be supportive

Youth may vape or smoke for different reasons; to fit in or to cope with stress. Be ready to help your child find healthier coping strategies and ways to deal with peer pressure.

Set a positive example

If you smoke or vape be open and honest about why you started and how it affects your health. It’s never too late to quit! Find supports to quit in your community.

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.

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.

Smoking, vaping and the law

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA) bans smoking and vaping of any substance 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 SFOA regulates the smoking of tobacco products, the use of electronic cigarettes to vape any substance, and the smoking of cannabis to protect people of Ontario especially youth, from the harms of tobacco, the potential harms of vapour products, and the harms of second-hand cannabis smoke.

Restricting youth access to tobacco and vapour products is an integral part of the SFOA, a comprehensive tobacco control program aimed at preventing children and youth from starting to use tobacco and vapour products.

The SFOA is enforced by Health Department tobacco enforcement officers who conduct inspections and investigations of public places and workplaces, respond to complaints, and lay charges when necessary. If convicted of smoking or vaping where it is not allowed, you may be charged with an offence and subject to a set fine of $400 up to a maximum of $5,000.

Ontario Regulation 268/18.

Where you can’t smoke or vape in Ontario

You cannot smoke or vape on and within 20 metres of school grounds of any school.

You cannot smoke or vape on children’s playgrounds or public areas within 20 metres of children’s playgrounds.

You cannot smoke or vape on a patio of any bar or restaurant, including the public areas within 9 metres of the patio.

You cannot smoke or vape within 9 metres of any entrance or exit of a public or private hospital, psychiatric facility, long-term care home or independent health facility.

You cannot smoke or vape on any outdoor hospital grounds or psychiatric facility grounds.

You cannot smoke or vape on publicly owned sporting areas, their fan/viewing areas, and public areas within 20 metres of these places.

You cannot smoke or vape in any common indoor areas of condos, apartment buildings or college and university residences.

You cannot smoke or vape on the outdoor grounds of a community recreational facility and any public areas within 20 metres of its grounds.

Penalties and fines under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017

Smoking and vaping legislation in Durham Region

New regional Smoking and Vaping By-law now in effect!

A new regional Smoking and Vaping By-law, regulating smoking and vaping of tobacco, vapour products and cannabis in public places and the workplace, has been approved and is now in effect. The previous Smoke-Free By-law, which regulated smoking in public places and the workplace, has now been revoked.

Durham Region’s new By-law will have further restrictions on places where smoking, vaping and cannabis use are prohibited. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 combined with the new regional Smoking and Vaping By-law, helps to provide area residents with an increased level of protection from both indoor and outdoor exposure to second-hand smoke or vape in public spaces, as well as protection for employees from exposure in the workplace.

These are the extended spaces that you will be protected in:

Smoking and vaping will be prohibited within nine metres of all public entrances/exits at workplaces and public places; and within 20 metres of all public park properties in Durham Region.
Smoking and vaping will be prohibited on all Post-Secondary institution property and Municipal property.
Smoking or vaping inside any hookah/vape lounge and specialty vape stores will be prohibited.

Durham Region Smoking and Vaping By-law

Individuals convicted of an offence under the regional Smoking and Vaping By-law could be subject to a maximum fine of $5,000.

Submit a complaint

Residents can submit an online complaint or concern to the Health Department about smoking or vaping in public places and workplaces. We also want to hear from you if you can provide information regarding a business selling tobacco or vapour products to youth under the age 19.

Submit a complaint or concern

Retailers

Tobacco and vapour product retailers have the legal responsibility to ensure that they understand and comply with the requirements under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017.

Specialty vape store registration

A specialty vape store is a business registered with the local Board of Health that primarily sells vapour products.

A retailer can register as a specialty vape store with the Durham Region Health Department if the following criteria are met:

A specialty vape store must have vapour products account for at least 85 per cent of its total sales in the previous year.
If the retailer has been in operation for less than one year, at least 85 per cent of the retailer's total inventory purchases or sales for that time period must be vapour products.
The remaining up to 15 per cent of the store's revenues or inventory would have to be dedicated to other items associated with a vapour product or branded with the name of the specialty vape store or a brand of vapour products.

Guidelines for registration as a specialty vape store Application form

Tobacconist registration

A tobacconist is a business registered with the local board of health that primarily sells specialty tobacco products.

This includes tobacco products and accessories (e.g. cigars, pipes, humidors), but does not include cigarettes.

A retailer can register as a tobacconist with the Durham Region Health Department if the following criteria are met:

Specialty tobacco products account for at least 85 per cent of its total sales in the previous year.
If the retailer has been in operation for less than one year at least 85 per cent of the retailer's total inventory, purchases or sales during this time period must relate to speciality tobacco products.
The remaining up to 15 per cent of the store's revenues or inventory would have to be from cigarettes or other items reasonably associated with a tobacco product and branded with the name of the tobacconist or a brand of tobacco.

Guidelines for registration as a tobacconist Application form

No smoking, no vaping signs for businesses and retailers

Durham Region businesses and retailers can request signs from the Health Department by contacting the Durham Health Connection Line.

Retailer convictions under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017

Health Department
Durham Health Connection Line
The Regional Municipality of Durham
605 Rossland Road East
Whitby, Ontario L1N 6A3
Telephone: 905-666-6241
Toll-Free: 1-800-841-2729
Email Durham Health Connection Line
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