‘Young Vietnamese people use e-cigarettes at high rates’

The information was shared by Professor Hoang Van Minh, Rector of the University of Public Health at the workshop “Prevention of new tobacco harms: Scientific evidence and experience in Vietnam and around the world” organized by VinFuture Foundation on the morning of September 24 in Hanoi.

Mr. Minh drew conclusions based on the results of a study he led from October to December 2023, surveying 3,801 students from grades 6 to 12 in 11 provinces and cities in Vietnam, showing that 14% of students had tried e-cigarettes and 7% were using them in the past 30 days. The rate for heated tobacco products was 1.8% who had used them and 1% who were using them.

The study also found that 10.6% of students believed that e-cigarettes were not harmful or less harmful than traditional cigarettes. Similarly, 3% of students shared the same view about heated tobacco products.

Professor Minh assessed that many people are misunderstanding or ignoring the risks of using e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. The group’s research shows that many people focus their attention on nicotine in cigarettes. However, other components in the aerosol (smoke-like vapor) of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products can also pose health risks. Aerosols in flavorings may be safe when ingested but can be harmful when inhaled. Heavy metals and other impurities that may be present in e-cigarette aerosols can pose health risks.

According to experts, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco devices with trendy designs, diverse flavors and sophisticated advertising campaigns have made many people, especially teenagers, mistakenly believe that these products are safer than traditional cigarettes.

Professor Minh emphasized the need to take immediate action, develop and implement strict control policies for these products.

Ms. Bungon Ritthiphakdee, Executive Director of the Global Tobacco Governance and Control Center (GGTC Thailand) assessed that e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products also contain addictive nicotine. If many people use this new type of tobacco, it is likely to create a new generation addicted to nicotine. On the other hand, there are currently more than 16,000 flavors of e-cigarettes, such as strawberry, apple, chocolate, etc. These flavors, along with the misconception that using a vape (smoking device) is not smoking, contribute to their increasing appeal to young people. The global health community, including the World Health Organization, has recorded cases of serious lung injuries associated with the use of e-cigarettes or vapes.

According to the director of GGTC Thailand, most ASEAN countries have made progress in tobacco control. Vietnam passed a tobacco control law in 2012, followed by Cambodia and Laos. Countries have done well in tobacco control with measures such as advertising bans, restrictions on smoking in public places and pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages.

However, according to Ms. Ritthiphakdee, countries are facing many challenges in restricting tobacco. Specifically, Laos and Cambodia still maintain low taxes on tobacco, while Singapore and Thailand have imposed taxes above 75% as recommended by the World Bank. The tobacco industry has introduced new products such as e-cigarettes and vaping devices aimed at young people. Ms. Ritthiphakdee believes that countries must apply strong legal frameworks to address this challenge and protect future generations from the harmful effects of nicotine addiction.

Associate Professor Becky Freeman, School of Public Health, University of Sydney Australia, shared measures that helped Australia reduce the rate of daily smokers from 30% to below 10%, including e-cigarettes no longer being sold in convenience stores. Buyers need a prescription from a pharmacy and use them only to quit smoking. In addition, Australia has implemented strong measures such as banning smoking in public places and advertising of tobacco, changing packaging and implementing health campaigns.

Associate Professor Becky Freeman said that smoking appears in OTT TV shows with celebrities promoting cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Tobacco businesses take advantage of social media to promote their brands and influence anti-tobacco policies. She said that e-cigarettes need to be controlled in terms of promotion on digital platforms. The World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) calls on countries to address the issue of tobacco promotion on cross-border media, including the internet and digital platforms. “We need to ensure that tobacco advertising laws keep up with the times and cover new forms of media that are currently very attractive to young people,” said Associate Professor Becky Freeman.

According to a report by the Ministry of Health, in 2023, Vietnam recorded more than 1,200 people hospitalized due to the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, including many minors. Compared to the same period in 2022, the number of hospitalizations increased significantly. A survey of tobacco use in 11 provinces and cities also showed that the rate of e-cigarette use among students aged 13-17 increased from 2.6% (in 2019) to 8.1% (in 2023). In the 13-15 age group, the rate more than doubled from 3.5% (in 2022) to 8% in 2023. In particular, among females aged 11-18, the rate of e-cigarette use was 4.3% in 2023.