Youth tobacco, vaping and nicotine addiction targeted for World No Tobacco Day 

 MEDIA RELEASE June 3, 2026
For immediate release 

Alberta Blue Cross and Alberta Lung are drawing attention to the rising threat of youth tobacco, vaping and nicotine addiction in conjunction with the recent World No Tobacco Day. 

As a proud sponsor of Alberta Lung’s Breathe Smart! Education Program, Alberta Blue Cross supports lung-health educational workshops in schools across the province—empowering students with facts about the health impacts of e-cigarettes and the tactics used by the vaping industry to attract youth. 

“Despite decades of action on tobacco reduction, tobacco use is still the leading cause of preventable death in Alberta, and more than 4,000 Albertans die from tobacco use each year,” says Brian Geislinger, Senior Vice-President of Corporate Relations and Community Engagement with Alberta Blue Cross. “We’re now seeing a new generation of youth being targeted through highly addictive vaping and nicotine pouches.” 

“Breathe Smart! is Alberta Lung’s most visible engagement program, educating thousands on lung healthy habits every year. Our interactive “live lung” demonstration drives home the impact of vaping and tobacco use,” says Jamie Happy, program manager and health promotion coordinator with Alberta Lung. “The 2026 Youth Tobacco and Vaping Survey in Canada reveals a clear correlation between youth targeted flavours, predatory marketing and youth usage. It credits increased awareness and research for preliminary data showing an increase in openness toward quitting among youth vapers. This underscores the importance and success of knowledge translation focused, harm reduction-based programming like Breathe Smart!” 

As a champion for wellness for Albertans, Alberta Blue Cross is a long-standing advocate for tobacco reduction. The organization is a member of the Campaign for a Smoke-Free Alberta, administers the AlbertaQuits program on behalf of Alberta Health Services and provides support for tobacco cessation through many of its benefit plan offerings. 

Did you know? 

• The Canadian Substance Use Survey, released in December 2024, shows that nearly a third (31 per cent) of Canadian teenagers (aged 15 to 19 years) used a vaping product in the last 30 days, higher than any other previous estimate. The study shows that while Albertan youth still exceed the national average (since 2019) in trying e-cigarettes and continued use, it has decreased a few percentage points since 2022. 
• The Canadian Cancer Society states that the aerosol from an e-cigarette contains many chemicals, including cancer-causing substances. Limited evidence from human and animal studies suggests that e-cigarettes can cause genetic changes and DNA damage, potentially increasing cancer risk. 
• According to Health Canada, kids and teens are especially susceptible to the harmful effects of nicotine because brain development continues throughout adolescence and into early adulthood. 

Where to get support 

• Alberta Lung Breathe Smart! Education Program: delivers lung-health workshops at schools across Alberta—focused on e-cigarettes and vaping as a growing and concerning trend among youth. 
• Alberta Quits: provides resources for quitting vaping and smoking. 

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About Alberta Blue Cross 

Alberta Blue Cross is a lifelong partner in health and wellbeing, helping people and organizations navigate life’s meaningful moments with clarity, care and confidence. For more than 75 years, we’ve supported individuals, employers, communities and governments through coverage and guidance to help people live well. Rooted in Alberta, we invest locally in initiatives that strengthen the communities we serve. 

About Alberta Lung 

Alberta Lung believes that saving lungs saves lives, especially for the 1 in 5 Albertans and their families affected by lung disease. Since 1939, Alberta Lung has championed lung health in Alberta by supporting patients, research, advocacy and education. 

For more information, please contact Stefan Tarnawsky, communications officer in Corporate Communications, Alberta Blue Cross at starnaws@ab.bluecross.ca or Alberta Lung at 780-488-6819 or info@ablung.ca.