Say no to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to protect the young generation

In recent years, many products called e-cigarettes and heated tobacco have appeared. Although not yet licensed, their sale and advertising are widespread. The rate of e-cigarette smoking in 2020 among both men and women increased 18 times compared to 2015 (from 0.2% to 3.6%). In particular, the trend of using e-cigarettes is highly concentrated in the 15-24 age group.

Nói không với thuốc lá điện tử, thuốc lá nung nóng để bảo vệ thế hệ trẻ

Overview of the rally and launching ceremony. (Photo: Hong Chau)

On May 27, in Hanoi, the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund (Ministry of Health) with technical support from the Global Public Health Organization Vital Strategies held a rally to respond to World No Tobacco Day (May 31, 2023) and National No Tobacco Week (May 25-31, 2023) and launched the communication campaign "Say No to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to protect the young generation".

The campaign is part of a series of activities responding to the World Health Organization (WHO)'s message calling on countries to promote communication activities to raise public awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco and new tobacco products on health, the economy, the environment, food security and nutrition.

Within the framework of the campaign, many communication activities will be deployed to raise awareness among adolescents and parents with children of adolescence about the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Through this, the campaign calls on people not to use tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products to protect the health of themselves, their families and the community.

Media videos with the message “Say No to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to protect the young generation” were broadcast nationwide from May 27 to July 16, 2023 on central and local television channels, cinema systems in major cities, apartments, high-rise buildings and social media channels, helping the message reach a large number of people nationwide.

Associate Professor, Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, spoke at the campaign launch ceremony. (Photo: Hong Chau)

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Associate Professor, Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, said that after 10 years of implementing the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention, with the attention of the National Assembly and the Government, the Ministry of Health has made efforts to coordinate with ministries, branches, mass organizations, and provinces and cities to implement tobacco harm prevention.

"With the continuous efforts of the Tobacco Control Program in Vietnam, Vietnamese youth have better awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco and have changed their behavior, actively participating in activities to prevent and combat the harmful effects of tobacco. The rate of tobacco use among adolescents aged 13-15 has decreased from 2.5% (in 2014) to 1.9% (in 2022). However, in recent years, many products called e-cigarettes and heated tobacco have appeared. Although not yet permitted, buying, selling and advertising are widespread. The rate of e-cigarette smoking in 2020 among both men and women increased 18 times compared to 2015 (from 0.2% to 3.6%). In particular, the trend of using e-cigarettes is highly concentrated in the age group of 15-24 years old.

Therefore, in the Fund's 2023 communication programs, we will promote propaganda about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, and promote communication on social networking sites (TikTok, Youtube, Facebook) to provide timely information and mobilize the participation of a large number of young people and students," Mr. Khue informed.

Dr. Tom Carroll, Senior Advisor on Communications and Policy Advocacy of Vital Strategies, an organization with many years of experience supporting tobacco control communication activities in Vietnam, shared some messages used in the communication campaign "Say No to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to protect the young generation" including: Using e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products can cause damage to the lungs, heart and brain, especially in young people; Like smoking regular cigarettes, heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes also emit toxic chemicals such as nitrosamines and hydrocarbons found in car exhaust and pesticides that cause cancer; Using e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products quickly causes nicotine addiction and is difficult to quit.

Delegates participate in a cycling campaign to promote tobacco harm prevention. (Photo: Hong Chau)

With specific facts and evidence about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, Dr. Tom Carroll also called for: "Say No to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to protect the young generation".

The Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, Vital Strategies and its partners hope that through the Campaign, knowledge about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products will reach a wide range of Vietnamese people, especially directly impacting the awareness of adolescents and parents with children of adolescent age, contributing to preventing the circulation and use of these products in Vietnam.

As a key partner of the Bloomberg Initiative (BI) to reduce tobacco use globally, Vital Strategies works to support the development, advocacy and implementation of policies to reduce tobacco use in more than 40 countries.

Vital Strategies' global team of experts with evidence-based strategic communications campaigns help countries adopt and implement public health policies such as tobacco and secondhand smoke prevention laws; increase tobacco taxes; promote public education about the harmful effects of tobacco and build smoke-free environments.

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