Anti-smoking group calls for better youth protection against vaping

THE Philippine Smoke-Free Movement (PSFM) is calling for a better mechanism to protect the youth from the threat of vaping and electronic cigarette use.

The group issued the call in the wake of the first death recorded in the country due to E-cigarette or Vaping Use-associated Lung Injury.

In a statement, the PSFM said there is a need to institute policies that will discourage the youth from using vapes and other similar products to prevent a repeat of the death of a 22-year-old male last year due to EVALI.

“The fight against nicotine addiction is a fight for the future of our children,” said PSFM Lead Coordinator Rizza Duro.

“We need to protect their health and future, and we must start now so that they won’t become a generation enslaved by addiction,” she added.

Duro said one of the actions needed is to implement stricter policies on vaping advertisements, especially online.

“We were able to monitor the lenient implementation of the advertising ban, especially online,” said the anti-smoking advocate.

Duro noted the presence of different vape flavors that she said enticed the youth.

“The availability of different child-friendly flavors of vape is detrimental to our program,” said Duro.

Last month, the Department of Health reported the death of a 22-year-old male allegedly due to EVALI.

Additionally, the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) indicates an increasing trend of vape use among the youth from 11.7 percent in 2015 to 24.6 percent in 2019.