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Concerns rise over vaping by young people
Credit to Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2770386/concerns-rise-over-vaping-by-young-people.
Illegal e-cigarettes easily available near schools, with packaging and flavours to appeal to children
Authorities need to do more to prevent e-cigarette use among young people, say participants who took part in a seminar held by the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Foundation on Wednesday.
The illicit sale of e-cigarettes in schools worries Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, said Warawut Yancharoen, assistant minister of the Prime Minister’s office.
The premier has instructed the relevant agencies to address and halt the distribution of e-cigarettes in schools, he told some 100 participants from across the country.
He noted a survey by Thailand Youth Institute, which found 72 shops selling e-cigarette in the capital, 51 of them near schools.
Mr Warawut said the institute also found that some e-cigarette products had been modified to increase their appeal to children. Some feature brightly coloured cartoon characters in their packaging, and flavours such as candy, fruit and mint.
“The threat of e-cigarettes among students is a great concern,” he said. “We found that some new user are only 13 years old. It is even worse that some student even bring these products to sell in schools.”
Mr Warawut said the Consumer Protection Board (CPB) would take action to eradicate vaping product, as well as raise awareness of the dangers of e-cigarettes among adolescents.
He also said the board would pursue legal action against those found involved with the distribution of e-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes are believed to be the main reason smoking is on the rise among young people in Thailand
Dr Prakit Vathesatogkit, the ASH chairman cited a survey of 6,700 Thai youths aged between 13 and 15 nationwide, which found that the number of young smokers had jumped from 3.3% in 2015 to 17.6% in 2022, or almost 5.3 times.
The findings also showed an increase in smoking uptake among young women.
Dr Prakit stressed the importance of finding a solution to the vaping epidemic among youth, saying they face the risk of nicotine addiction for their entire lives.
Dr Suthep Phetmak, secretary-general of the National Health Commission, National Health Commission Office (NHCO), said a committee has been formed to draft a vaping control policy. The NHCO also urged the government to continue enforcing its ban on the import of such products.
Pitaya Jinawat, of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) said it was working with various groups to reduce the prevalence of vaping among young people by boosting awareness among students, teachers and parents, educating them about the dangers of e-cigarettes and supporting vaping-control measures.