The sale of vaping products containing flavour was banned in Quebec as of Oct. 31 last year — six months later, 36 per cent of vapers have turned to cigarettes, according to data revealed in a recent survey.
According to the Léger firm survey conducted on behalf of the Coalition of the Rights of Vapoteurs of Quebec (CDVQ), 22 per cent returned to cigarettes while 14 per cent started smoking.
RELATED: Quebec banning the sale of flavoured vaping products as of Oct. 31
“Our worst-case scenarios have come true,” said Valérie Gallant, spokesperson for the CDVQ, in a news release on Sunday. “Only six months after the abolition of flavors, young people are vaping more than ever, and smokers who had stopped smoking thanks to vaping have started smoking again.”
According to the survey, 76 per cent of vapers said they started using electronic cigarettes to quit smoking — 68 per cent say the flavours played an important role in their decision.
“For our vapers, several of them, unable to find flavors, have simply started smoking again,” said Gallant. “You have no idea how sad this makes me.”
The survey also shows that 30 per cent of young people aged 16-24 say they vape.
“The fact that those who continue to vape buy their products on the black market does nothing to resolve the situation,” added Gallant. “As I have mentioned on several occasions, Minister Dubé must reverse his decision, take a step back and come back with solutions to regulate vaping while allowing flavors.”
The survey was conducted online from March 26 to April 7 among 1,001 people aged 16 and over.