E-cigarettes do not aid in tobacco cessation

Alarming evidence of adverse health effects

Youth using e-cigarettes are 3 times more likely to smoke cigarette

E-cigarettes, considered as consumer goods, have not demonstrated effectiveness in aiding tobacco cessation on a population-wide scale.

Instead, the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed alarming evidence of adverse health effects at the population level. The WHO emphasized the imperative to regulate e-cigarettes urgently to safeguard children, non-smokers, and mitigate health risks across the population.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern about the recruitment of children into e-cigarette use, emphasizing the risk of nicotine addiction at an early age.

Dr. Tedros urged countries to enforce stringent measures to prevent the initiation of e-cigarette use, particularly among children and young individuals.

In India, the possession of e-cigarettes and similar devices is a violation of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarette Act (PECA) 2019, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The WHO cited consistent studies indicating that youth using e-cigarettes are nearly three times more likely to take up cigarette smoking later in life.

The organization highlighted that nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are highly addictive and pose health risks.

In response to these findings, the WHO emphasized the need for urgent measures to prevent the initiation of e-cigarette use and address nicotine addiction. They stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach to tobacco control, tailored to each country’s specific circumstances.