The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern over the increasing use of e-cigarettes among young people and issued a warning.
According to reports, the WHO stated that the use of e-cigarettes is rapidly growing among teenagers, especially those aged between 13 and 15. The organization warned that this is a “new nicotine disorder,” meaning that young people are becoming addicted to nicotine through e-cigarettes, which can later lead to regular tobacco smoking.
The vapors produced by e-cigarettes may contain toxic substances that can negatively affect the lungs, heart, and brain particularly in adolescents whose bodies and organs are still developing. The WHO also pointed out that e-cigarettes are often marketed to attract youth through appealing flavors, colorful packaging, and social media promotions.
The WHO has recommended several key measures for all countries to adopt:
1. Establish a minimum legal age for purchasing e-cigarettes and strictly enforce age verification.
2. Restrict or ban flavored products, colorful packaging, and advertising that appeal to children.
3. Make e-cigarettes more expensive to reduce accessibility for minors.
4. Educate youth, parents, and schools about the dangers of e-cigarette use.
5. Introduce legislation and regulations to control the import, distribution, advertising, and use of e-cigarettes.
