Concerns growing over teen vape use
Ways to prevent e-cigarette use among children were discussed during a seminar yesterday held by the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Foundation in Bangkok.
Delegates included 100 staff from networks from the four regions across the country.
During the opening ceremony, Warawut Yancharoen, assistant minister of the Prime Minister’s office, said the illicit sale of e-cigarettes in schools concerns Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Mr Warawut said the premier has instructed agencies to address and halt the distribution of e-cigarettes in schools.
Surveys by the Thailand Youth Institute found numerous e-cigarette stores situated near schools in Bangkok, he said.
Among 72 e-cigarette stores in the capital surveyed, 51 are near schools, he said.
Mr Warawut said the institute found some e-cigarettes have been altered to increase their appeal to children, with some having brightly coloured cartoon characters and flavours such as candy, fruit, and mint.
“The threat of e-cigarettes among students is a great concern. We found that new users are only 13 years old. It is even worse that some students bring these products to sell in schools,” he said.
Mr Warawut said the Consumer Protection Board (CPB) will take action on the matter and eradicate the products, as well as raise awareness of the dangers of e-cigarettes among adolescents.
He also said the CPB will take legal action against those found involved with the distribution of e-cigarettes.
Dr Prakit Vathesatogkit, the ASH chairman, cited a smoking survey conducted among 6,700 Thai youths aged between 13-15 nationwide, saying the number of young smokers had jumped from 3.3% in 2015 to 17.6% in 2022 or almost 5.3 times higher.
The findings also showed an increase in smoking among young women.
Dr Prakit also underlined the importance of finding a solution against the vaping epidemic among youths, saying they face the risk of nicotine addiction for their entire lives.
Dr Suthep Phetmak, secretary-general of the National Health Commission (NHC), said a policy development committee has been formed to draft a vaping control policy. The NHC also urged the government to continue to ban the import of such products.
Pitaya Jinawat, of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) said ThaiHealth is working with various networks to reduce the prevalence of vaping among youths by boosting awareness among students, teachers, and parents.