A batch of illegally imported e-cigarettes seized by Dak Nong province's police in December 2022. (Photo: VNA)The latest case was seven third-graders of Hanoi’s Hoang Liet Primary School,Hoang Mai district, who were hospitalised for experiencing nausea, andheadaches after smoking or inhaling e-cigarettes.
On November 18, three male students in grade 12 of Thanh Da High School, HCMCity's Binh Thanh district, also showed unusual physical symptoms such asdiscomfort, shortness of breath, and fainting after using the e-cigarettes.
In early November, a secondary school male student was taken to the NationalChildren's Hospital in a state of panic with difficulty breathing andconvulsions after using the product.
Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, an official from the Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund,Ministry of Health, said a recent study showed that the e-cigarette smokingrate among students in Vietnam increased from 2.6% in 2019 to 3.5% in 2021.
The smoking rate among male students increased from 3.6% to 4.3%and from 1.5% to 2.8% in female students.
The percentage of students who had ever tried an e-cigarette was 7.8%.
This increase in numbers is a cause for concern, especially given how easilyaccessible e-cigarettes are for young people.
The smoking rate among teenagers is increasing due to the emergence ofnew-generation cigarettes, which is changing nicotine addiction, said NguyenHuu Hoang, a lecturer from the Medical Education Centre at HCM City'sUniversity of Medicine and Pharmacy.
"E-cigarette devices that look like USB drives, pen or pen boxes aremaking it tough for parents to detect and keep their kids from vaping. Theyalso make young people curious and excited by their eye-catching, fashionableand modern designs," Hoang told the Laodong (Labour) newspaper.
As well as easy access, different levels of nicotine and diverse flavours havemade e-cigarettes attractive, increasing the risk of addiction.
Studies show that new-generation e-cigarettes change smoking rates among youthunder 18, making it necessary to implement more measures to prevent and reducethe usage of e-cigarettes.
At a recent workshop to share research results on tobacco use among studentsaged 13-15 in Vietnam, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan said theincrease of new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes also hindered prevention.It remained easy for people to get access to cigarette products which were soldwidely across the country.
Tran Thi Trang, Deputy Director of the Legal Affairs Department at the Ministryof Health, said the ministry has proposed banning all new tobacco products, inline with the trend in regional countries and the world.
Deputy Director of the HCM City's Market Management Department, Nguyen Tien Dat,affirmed that at present, there are no regulations regarding licensingcigarette sales at stores.
In 2020-2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging, the unit discoveredmany violations related to new-generation tobacco products.
In 2022 alone, 940 new-generation tobacco-related products were discovered.
In early November, police in Tam Nong district, Phu Tho province, apprehended aman in possession of synthetic drugs in the form of e-cigarettes.
He confessed to purchasing e-cigarettes and e-liquids via social networks forlocal consumption.
All seized e-liquids contained the ADB-Butinaca, an ingredient insome synthetic cannabis products.
In September, police in Hanoi’s Nam Tu Liem district also discovered a group ofillegal drug dealers. They bought e-cigarettes, and dried herbs, addinge-liquids containing ADB-Butinaca.
The Hanoi Police recommends that parents take time to care for, listen to theirchildren, and observe their children's activities as co-ordinate with schoolsto learn more about activities and relationships of children to early foundabnormal signs.
It is necessary to contact a doctor or psychologist for support if needed.
Schools should coordinate with competent agencies to organise drug testing todetect students using illegal drugs./.
VNA
