Part 1 of this piece was published on Thursday, January 4, 2024. The following is the conclusion.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has clearly identified vaping as problematic. In fact, the WHO says urgent action is needed to control e-cigarettes to protect children as well as non-smokers, and minimise health harms to the population.

E-cigarettes, as consumer products, are not shown to be effective for quitting tobacco use at the population level. Instead, alarming evidence has emerged on adverse population health effects. E-cigarettes have been allowed on the open market and aggressively marketed to young people.

Thirty-four countries ban the sale of e-cigarettes, 88 countries have no minimum age at which e-cigarettes can be bought, and 74 countries have no regulations in place for these harmful products.

E-cigarettes target children through social media and influencers with at least 16,000 flavours. Some of these products use cartoon characters and have sleek designs, which appeal to the younger generation. There is an alarming increase in the use of e-cigarettes among children and young people with rates exceeding adult use in many countries. The WHO argues that even brief exposure to e-cigarette content on social media can be associated with increased intention to use these products, as well as more positive attitudes toward e-cigarettes. Studies consistently show that young people that use e-cigarettes are almost three times more likely to use cigarettes later in life.

The WHO concludes that the tobacco industry profits from destroying health and is using these newer products to get a seat at the policymaking table with governments to lobby against health policies. The tobacco industry funds and promotes false evidence to argue that these products reduce harm, while at the same time heavily promoting these products to children and non-smokers and continuing to sell billions of cigarettes.

Workable solutions

With the recent ban on the use and marketing of electronic cigarettes in Venezuela, more countries in the Americas are adopting measures in line with the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to protect the health of their populations from novel tobacco products. Currently, 21 countries in the Americas regulate electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), such as e-cigarettes and vapes, in some way. Eight of them (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela) prohibit their sale altogether, and the other 13 have partially or totally adopted one or more regulatory measures. Meanwhile, 14 countries lack any regulation of these products.

Perhaps, Caricom could seize the moment and speak as one body regarding its position on e-cigarettes and vapes. What is most troubling is that many parents have no idea that their child or children are involved. Vaping allows for a sense of secrecy. In addition, vaping has acquired an air of harmless sophistication. Vaping has become sexy. Our teenagers see vaping on the silver screens involving their role models and idols; this makes the practice more alluring. When this reality is juxtaposed with the fact that there is not an anti-vaping campaign locally this makes for a match made in vaping heaven.

It is evident that our children have been targeted by the creativity of the tobacco industry. The truth is any anti-vaping campaign must be as equally creative in order to reach our pre-teens and teenagers who are primarily the targeted customers. Governments as well as non-governmental organisations must now heed the call from bodies such as the WHO and the National Institute on Drug Abuse in tackling vaping which has now become a social problem in many if not all societies.

Our educational institutions are critical stakeholders in the fight against vaping. As a consequence, any anti-vaping campaign must bear this in mind. Our schools especially those at the primary and secondary levels must also adjust their school policies to include vaping and vaping devices. Our parent teachers’ associations must also be part of this conversation regarding anti-vaping measures.

Interestingly, some jurisdictions have also placed a special tax on vaping devices. Perhaps such a measure should be explored and the proceeds used to fund anti-vaping campaigns. The time for stakeholders to act is now.

In the words of Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, kids are being recruited and trapped at an early age to use e-cigarettes and may get hooked to nicotine.

Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or waykam@yahoo.com, @WayneCamo