Harm-reduction data note / September 25, 2026
Youth Metrics and Adult Harm Reduction Belong Together
CCHRN argues Alberta can track youth prevention while preserving a measured harm-reduction pathway for adults.
The federal data frame is mixed
Health Canada says the 2024 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth found 5.8 percent of Canadians aged 12 to 17 reported vaping in the past 30 days, according to Addressing Tobacco and Vaping Product Use in Canada. That supports prevention, but it also shows why current data should guide policy rather than assumptions alone.
The missing Alberta pairing
- Youth prevalence.
- Youth source of access.
- Adult switching and displacement.
- Illegal-channel enforcement.
A better next step
If the Bill 208 review moves forward after the September 24 agenda, Alberta should publish those four measures together so youth protection and adult harm reduction are not treated as opposites.