Teen vaping should be addressed like any substance use disorder, B.C. doctor says [Video]

Vaping rates in Canada are among the highest in the world and, in B.C. schools, its prevalence has become a serious concern for staff and health officials.

Dr. Milan Khara, who specializes in smoking and vaping cessation, agrees that it’s best to lead with empathy and compassion and approach vaping just like any other substance use disorder.

However, he said there is one big challenge.

“One of the difficulties, I think, is when we treat addiction and when we treat people with substance use disorder, one of the things we do is we encourage them to remove the triggers,” he said.

“We encourage them to move away from the people, places and things associated with that substance use. For example, people who are struggling with alcohol use, we recommend that they don’t go to the bar. But with young people who are vaping, they go to school every day. They go to school and mix with other kids …