Nearly 17% of Minors in Brazil Have Tried E-Cigarettes; Senate to Hold Hearing at End of September o

In Brazil, the proportion of minors who have tried e-cigarettes is 16.8%, compared to only 7% in the UK. At the end of September, the Federal Senate in Brasília will hold a public hearing to discuss the importance of regulating e-cigarettes.

According to a report from OBS on September 22, based on research from the Federal University of Pelotas, one in five young people in Rio Grande do Sul uses e-cigarettes. The survey also shows that these devices, also known as e-cigarettes, are becoming increasingly popular among young people aged 18 to 24. The proportion of minors in Brazil who have tried the product is 16.8%, while in the UK it is only 7%. At the end of September, the Federal Senate in Brasília will hold a public hearing to discuss the importance of regulating e-cigarettes.

Despite being unregulated in Brazil, e-cigarettes are freely sold on the streets, and experts say this is a factor that increases the risk for users. This is because, being illegal, there is no regulation on their entry into the country, the illegal market, and the substances used in these devices.

Previous studies have shown that in regulated countries, the proportion of consumers under 18 is lower than in Brazil, where the proportion of minors who have tried the product is 16.8%. In the UK, the experimentation rate is 7%.

"When we observe the evolution of young people trying e-cigarettes in regulated countries, you find that only 1% of these young people continue to use e-cigarettes. For young audiences, I can't even study. Why can't I conduct health research on e-cigarettes in Brazil? Because the import of this product is even banned for research purposes," said researcher Alessandra Bastos.

It is reported that the Federal Senate in Brasília will hold a public hearing at the end of this month to discuss the importance of regulating e-cigarettes. Brazil needs to take action to ensure the health of young people.