WHO and Vietnamese health experts share the same concern: children may fall into the 'vaping trap'

At a press conference and awards ceremony jointly organized in Vietnam by HealthBridge and the World Health Organization on December 21, health experts expressed concern about the aggressive penetration of e-cigarettes among young people, especially children, who they believe are the group most likely to fall into this “flavor trap.”

Nguyen Thi Doan Lam, a WHO expert in Vietnam, warned: “Children may be invited by friends to use e-cigarettes at school, and we have no way of knowing whether they have been mixed with synthetic drugs. What is worrying is that many parents may not be aware of this situation and cannot monitor their children at all times to control it.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), e-cigarettes have been heavily promoted to young people through social media and influencers. Children in particular are being targeted through the use of cartoon characters, at least 16,000 flavors, and products designed to resemble toys, candy, and school supplies.

Dr. Angela Pratt, head of the WHO Representative Office in Vietnam, believes that the rising rate of children using e-cigarette products is linked to the fact that these products contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance that harms brain development. In particular, these products are designed and marketed specifically to appeal to young people, using attractive colors, flavors, and eye-catching packaging. This is one of the tobacco industry’s goals. We must not fall into this “trap.” E-cigarettes also contain toxic substances like those found in conventional cigarettes, many of which have been proven to cause long-term problems such as cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and other health issues. Recently, the WHO Director-General also called on countries to take urgent action to stop and protect children from the harms of e-cigarettes.

Dr. Pratt pointed out: “Children who use e-cigarettes are three times more likely to start using conventional cigarettes than children who do not use e-cigarettes; this is a risk, a dangerous gateway. It is also noteworthy that there have recently been reports of these products being laced with drugs, creating extremely dangerous risks of addiction and drug poisoning.”

Dr. Nguyen Thi Doan Lam noted that Vietnam currently has no official documents or regulations banning e-cigarettes, so regulators have no tools to control these products. Enforcement is weak, while these products continue to be sold widely. If no preventive measures are taken, the rate of e-cigarette use among young people will continue to rise rapidly. WHO has also advised that Vietnam needs regulations banning e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, and that relevant agencies should be tasked with enforcement to protect young people before it is too late. The ban should be incorporated into the Law on Tobacco Control.

At the event, the organizers also presented tobacco control and non-communicable disease prevention awards to reporters and editors who had produced coverage on this topic. Specifically, they awarded 2 first prizes, 2 second prizes, and 10 “For Community Health” awards.