Few habits have proven as stubborn to stamp out as smoking, but the tide may be turning—just not in the direction some expected. Canadian authorities now urge caution, placing vaping firmly at the back of the line for those hoping to kick the cigarette habit.
Canadian smokers looking for a way out are being steered away from vape shops and back to traditional stop-smoking methods, following new recommendations from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care. Their advice arrives at a pivotal moment. Surveys show that while roughly one in ten Canadian adults still smokes, the urge to quit remains high, with nearly a third attempting to break free each year. Yet, the path many have taken—vaping—has come under scrutiny.
Doctors are now instructed to discuss smoking with every patient and help craft a personalized quitting plan. Tried-and-true supports such as nicotine patches, gum, prescription medications, and face-to-face counselling are getting top billing. As for vaping? The Task Force suggests it should be held in reserve, a route for only those who have exhausted all other options or refuse alternatives.
Vaping’s fall from grace is rooted in uncertainty. While some health agencies once viewed it as a lesser evil than cigarettes, researchers point to a fog of unknowns about its long-term effects. Dr. Eddy Lang, a key voice behind the new guidelines, highlighted concerns over exposure to heavy metals, cancer-causing agents, and the addictive grip of nicotine delivered through e-cigarettes. The worry isn’t just about replacing one risky habit with another—it’s about the unknown price of that trade.
There is also alarm over vaping’s magnetic pull on youth. Flavoured e-cigarettes—bubble gum, fruit, you name it—have become a gateway to nicotine dependence for teenagers, with nearly half of young adults admitting to trying them. The numbers tell a cautionary story: those who vape are more likely to become smokers, and the cycle of addiction grinds on.
As Canadians weigh their options, one truth stands clear: quitting smoking is no small feat, but the safest path, experts say, remains paved with proven supports—not clouds of uncertainty.
References:
Stay away from vaping to quit smoking, Canadian researchers recommend
