Letter of the Day | Implement anti-vaping laws
Published:Wednesday | January 3, 2024 | 12:06 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
Vaping is a relatively new phenomenon. However, this practice has caught on like wildfire in many parts of the world. Vaping devices are popular among preteens and teenagers. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, vaping devices are the most commonly used form of nicotine among youth in the United States. Some research shows that many teens do not even realise that vaping cartridges contain nicotine, and assume the pods contain only flavouring. Additionally, vaping devices are easy to hide from teachers and parents because they do not leave behind the stench of tobacco cigarettes, and are often disguised as flash drives. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that a study of high school students found that one in four teens reported using e-cigarettes for dripping, a practice in which people produce and inhale vapours by placing e-liquid drops directly on to heated atomizer coils. The NCDA study found that the risk perception of vaping is very low among students as they fall prey to the marketing of these products that come in a range of flavours and which the tobacco industry claims can help reduce the harm of smoking tobacco products.
The World Health Organization says urgent action is needed to control e-cigarettes to protect children, as well as non-smokers and minimise health harms to the population. Currently, 21 countries in the Americas regulate electronic nicotine delivery systems, 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. 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-teacher associations must also be part of this conversation regarding anti-vaping measures. Parents need to be more proactive as well. 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.
WAYNE CAMPBELL