Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan has addressed growing concerns regarding the sale of e-cigarettes to students, highlighting the significant health risks these products pose, including lung and cardiovascular damage, and particularly their impact on adolescent brain development.

Voters in Da Nang have raised alarms about the widespread use of e-cigarettes among students, noting the negative effects on both their health and academic performance. They have called for stringent policies to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to students, alongside measures to limit the import of these products into Vietnam and enforce strict penalties on illegal sellers.

Responding to these concerns, Minister Dao Hong Lan acknowledged the current "legal gap" in the regulation of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and other new tobacco products.

According to the Minister, the 2012 Law on Tobacco Control does not clearly define these newer products. Moreover, the Investment Law does not classify e-cigarettes or heated tobacco as prohibited or conditionally approved for business investment.

E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are becoming increasingly popular, especially among teenagers and students. The rise in their use not only poses significant health risks but also leads to complex social issues.

A survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) on student health behaviors in Vietnam, along with a study on the use of new tobacco products among middle and high school students in 11 provinces and cities, revealed that the use of e-cigarettes among students aged 13-17 increased from 2.6% in 2019 to 8.1% in 2023.

In the past, cases of tobacco poisoning were rare, but there has been a noticeable increase in recent years. The Ministry of Health's Department of Medical Services reported that in 2023 alone, 1,224 cases of hospitalization were related to the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco, with 71 cases involving individuals under 18, of which 10% were female.

"Scientific studies have shown that e-cigarettes may contain numerous addictive and harmful substances that pose risks of lung and cardiovascular damage and particularly impact the brain development of adolescents," emphasized Minister Lan.

However, she noted that enforcement actions against these products have primarily been limited to cases involving illegal trade, such as those without proper invoices, documents, or those involving smuggled goods. Criminal charges have only been pursued in instances where illegal drugs or banned substances were found in the products.

The cost of treating acute nicotine poisoning from e-cigarettes mixed with drugs can range from over 10 million to hundreds of millions of VND per case, according to Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen, Director of the Poison Control Center at Bach Mai Hospital.

Minister Lan described "new tobacco products" as a hot-button issue that has garnered significant public attention due to their potential for rapid addiction, particularly among students and young adults. She emphasized the urgent need for preventive measures to stop the spread of nicotine addiction and protect public health.

In May of this year, the Ministry of Health submitted a proposal to the Government to present a resolution to the National Assembly that would ban the production, sale, import, and advertising of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and any other new tobacco products that may emerge in the future.

Minister Dao Hong Lan stated that there is a need to "completely ban" the production, sale, import, and advertising of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and other new tobacco products to safeguard public health.

"If we only propose banning the sale, purchase, and use of these products by individuals under 18 years of age, the tobacco harm prevention efforts will not achieve the goal of reducing smoking rates in the community. This could create opportunities for children to use tobacco and lead to other risks," explained Minister Lan.

Within the ASEAN region, five countries—Thailand, Singapore, Laos, Brunei, and Cambodia—have already implemented complete bans on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

Thu Hang