The new generation of tobacco products is compounding health burdens and worsening public health, safety, societal, and environmental issues, according to the Ministry of Health. On October 29, the ministry held a seminar to announce the harmful impacts of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and heated tobacco products.

Professor Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health, stated that alongside traditional cigarettes, newer products - e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and hybrid tobacco products - are now available. Though not yet authorized for sale in Vietnam, the usage rate of these products is rapidly increasing, especially among high school students in urban areas.

“Using these new-generation tobacco products raises the risk of drug addiction and other dependencies, adding to the public health burden and worsening issues of public safety, social well-being, and environmental health,” Prof. Thuan noted.

According to Prof. Thuan, 2021 data shows that the overall smoking rate is 20.8%, with 41.1% of adult males smoking. Vietnam ranks among the highest globally in smoking rates. In 2022 alone, tobacco-related costs, including healthcare expenses, productivity loss due to illness, and premature death, amounted to 1.14% of the nation’s GDP (approximately 108.7 trillion VND)- a figure five times higher than tobacco tax revenue.

Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Director of the Department of Medical Services Administration, noted that in just two years, the prevalence of e-cigarette use among students aged 13–15 rose sharply from 3.5% in 2022 to 8.0% in 2023.

Statistics reveal that smoking rates by age group are 7.3% for ages 15–24, 3.2% for ages 25–44, and 1.4% for ages 45–64.

Medical facilities are also documenting cases of emergency treatment linked to new-generation tobacco products. According to a rapid survey conducted by the Department of Medical Services Administration and the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, 1,224 hospitalizations in 2023 alone were due to e-cigarette and heated tobacco use, with symptoms typically including allergic reactions, poisoning, and acute lung injury.

The Ministry of Health has proposed that the National Assembly pass a resolution banning the production, trade, import, and advertising of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and other new tobacco products. Meanwhile, the Ministry is drafting a revised Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention.

Harmful effects of new-generation tobacco

The Ministry of Health reports that new-generation tobacco products pose various health risks, similar to traditional cigarettes:

- Acute Risks: E-cigarettes can cause acute lung damage and even death, injuries and burns from battery explosions, fires, nicotine overdose, and poisoning from illicit drugs mixed into e-liquid.

- Brain Development: E-cigarettes contain nicotine, a powerful addictive substance harmful to brain development in youth under 25. Nicotine can impair the formation of neural connections, affecting memory, focus, learning, self-regulation, and mood stability. Long-term consequences include addiction, cognitive and emotional disorders, reduced concentration, and learning capacity.

- Respiratory Issues: Users may experience reduced lung function due to airway obstruction.

- Cardiovascular Damage: E-cigarettes can cause blood vessel dysfunction, vascular sclerosis, thrombosis, atherosclerosis, heart attacks, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and strokes.

- Cancer Risk: They may damage DNA, increasing cancer risk and chemotherapy resistance.

- Mental Health Impact: E-cigarettes negatively affect youth psychological stability, raising the risk of stress and reducing psychological stability.

- Oral Health: Risks include gingivitis, tooth decay, bone loss around teeth, mucosal damage, and increased infection risk.

- Other Health Issues: Associated symptoms include headaches, coughing, insomnia, fatigue, chest pain in young users, throat irritation, dizziness, nausea, depression, anxiety, and impulsive behavior.

Tran Thuong