Number of minors using e-cigarettes in San Marino quadruples

San Marino's health authority has once again echoed the World Health Organization's warning. A few days ago, the WHO pointed out that the tobacco industry is promoting e-cigarettes to attract young smokers. Authorities therefore need to strengthen public education and regulation to counter marketing campaigns that use new flavors, new additives, and cartoon imagery.

In San Marino, the health authority has been conducting surveys for ten years. Data from 2014 to 2018 and from 2022 show that e-cigarette use among young people has nearly quadrupled.

“E-cigarettes,” confirmed Claudio Muccioli, director of the San Marino health authority, “have become a common habit among our young people. Our latest data, from 2022, are based on a survey of second- and fourth-year high school students and show a steady increase in users: 35% said they use them occasionally, and 16% use them daily.

There are more 15-year-olds than 14-year-olds.” The World Health Organization warns that “although the long-term health effects are not yet fully understood, e-cigarettes contain nicotine and produce toxic substances, and using e-cigarettes at a young age may affect brain development and lead to learning difficulties.” San Marino's health authority accuses marketing campaigns of targeting increasingly younger consumers and drawing them into the world of “e-cigarettes,” and is calling for tighter regulation. “The students we interviewed indicated that, despite being underage, they can easily obtain e-cigarettes.”