Despite the ban on e-cigarettes, Thailand has seen a rise in the number of young vapers, raising serious concerns among experts and the general public.
Targeted advertising is to blame for the rise in young e-cigarette users. Vapes look harmless, are cutely painted in bright cartoon colours and come in enticing flavours and fragrances. However, despite the increased risk of lung disease and the Thai law ban, e-cigarettes have become widespread in Thailand.
Nicotine vaping devices come in a playful design called ‘toy capsules’. This presentation of the devices is intended to show, especially to teenagers, that vape devices are supposedly harmless as they are not cigarettes while at the same time being fashionable and socially acceptable.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed that the chemicals in e-cigarettes, especially additives and nicotine, are toxic and harmful. Nicotine, which is the primary substance in both tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes, is highly addictive.
Nicotine use by children and adolescents significantly affects brain development and leads to learning disabilities and increased anxiety. Nevertheless, it is the teenagers who are targeted by part of the e-cigarette industry.
The e-cigarette industry
A recent raid on e-cigarette shops has provided strong evidence that the e-cigarette business is highly lucrative, says Patcharapan Prajuablap, secretary-general of the Thailand Youth Institute.
According to a study by the institute, a small 20m² shop generates up to one million baht a month, with 70 per cent of sales going to minors.
The study found that the best time for sales is between 2 pm and 6 pm when school is over. Toy vape capsules are the number one bestseller due to their attractive and colourful design. One capsule is rated for 5,000 puffs.
According to Patcharapan, there are more than 1,000 e-cigarette shops in Bangkok, most of which are located near educational institutions. The closest outlet is situated 130 metres from a local school.
The study also found that Bangkok has the highest rate of e-cigarette use among teenagers at 32.3 per cent. According to the findings, teenagers buy the capsules from shops rather than ordering them online.
‘We found that e-cigarette sellers are trying to attract young buyers by offering variants with favourite flavours such as Nong Pho [Thai milk brand], Milo and Ovaltine,’ said Patcharapan.
‘Worse, manufacturers and retailers are even using toy marketing to advertise electronic devices, giving the impression that the product is not dangerous for children.’
Patcharapan said all e-cigarettes in Thailand are manufactured in neighbouring countries. Therefore, the best way to prevent the problem is to improve the efficiency of customs checks on overseas shipments.
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Settha Thavisin recently said that importing e-cigarettes into Thailand has been banned since 2014.
‘The Prime Minister should order the Customs Department to take measures to stop the smuggling of e-cigarettes. The current cat-and-mouse game is unlikely to solve the problem,’ Patcharapan added.
Underage victims of the industry
Last year, the institute and the Department of Health Support under the Ministry of Public Health conducted a study on e-cigarette use among Thai youth. Of the 61’688 participants with an average age of 15, 25 per cent of the teenagers smoked.
The study also found that teenagers living with e-cigarette smokers were 1.3 times more likely to take up the habit compared to the group that did not live in a smoking environment. Children who were unaware of the dangers of e-cigarettes were 1.14 times more likely to take up smoking.
Earlier this year, a team from Ramathibodi Hospital conducted a study in two primary schools in Lopburi and Tak and were shocked by what they found,’ said Ramathibodi Hospital Faculty of Medicine lecturer Dr Roengrudi Pathavanich.
According to Roengrudi, 43 per cent of students aged ten years and above (grades 4 to 6) in Lopburi have tried e-cigarettes, and more than half of them are girls. While in Taka, 22 per cent of students in the same age group have used e-cigarettes.
According to the students, it helps them feel calm. The students also believe that smoking e-cigarettes is not dangerous. Twenty-three per cent said they got an e-cigarette from a family member, and 20 per cent said social media inspired them.
Dr Roengrudy also revealed that previous research has shown that children start smoking cigarettes on average at the age of 18, and less than five per cent start smoking in primary school.
The study also found that e-cigarettes are a pathway to tobacco cigarettes, as children who use e-cigarettes are five times more likely to switch to regular cigarettes.
‘The figures are terrifying, and child protection is urgently needed. The government must strictly enforce the ban on the sale of e-cigarettes in the country. Otherwise, children will assume that the product is safe and fit for use,’ Dr Roengrudy said.
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