Preventing and addressing youth vaping in British Columbia, Canada: Evidence from triangulation of a scoping review of vaping policy and qualitative interviews with school-aged youth.

Objectives: Vaping remains a widespread and ongoing epidemic among youth, with research demonstrating that well-designed policies can play a critical role in curbing this growing issue. Methods: The present study provides a Canadian case-study examination of vaping policy by triangulating a scoping review of federal (Canada, Results: The policy review identified gaps in comprehensiveness, public accessibility, and enforcement, particularly at regional levels, where policies often lack comprehensiveness and fail to address vaping-specific challenges. Interview findings revealed youth perceptions of school policies as poorly implemented, reactive, and overly punitive, highlighting the need for proactive, educational approaches to address vaping behaviors. Conclusions: Findings emphasize the importance of clear, accessible, and targeted policies that address possession, distribution, and marketing while involving youth, educators, and parents in awareness and prevention efforts. This case study provides insights applicable to other jurisdictions, offering a framework for designing dynamic, equitable, and effective vaping policies internationally.