They may look innocently pretty, coming in brilliant cartoon-like colours and with numerous tempting flavours.
E-cigarettes are more prevalent in Thailand now than they are in Thailand, despite raising the risk of heart disease and being prohibited by Thai rules.
The smoking vaping devices come in lively designs, dubbed” toy pods”, apparently to talk to prone targets, especially adolescents, that they are safe due to the devices being smoke-free, great and morally acceptable.
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has confirmed the chemicals in e-cigarettes, particularly the additives and nicotine, are toxic and harmful.
Nicotine, which is the principal broker in both cigarette smokes and e-cigarettes, is very addictive.
Significant effects on brain development and potential causes of learning and panic disorders can be caused by smoking in children and adolescents.
However, the e-cigarette business particularly targets young people.
INDECENT INDUSTRY
A recent attack of e-cigarette shops in the Ratchadaphisek neighborhood in the Din Daeng area, according to Pattarapan Prajuablap, secretary-general of the Thailand Youth Institute, provided strong evidence that the e-cigarette industry generates a lot of money.
Based on the institution’s investigation, a modest 20 sq m store may make up to one million ringgit per month, and 70 % of the income were to minors.
Additionally, the study found that the best time to sell toys is between 2 and 6 p.m., when school is finished, and that plaything pods are the top-selling item due to their attractive, colorful design. One doll seed provides 5,000 sips.
According to Mr Patcharapan, there are more than 1,000 e-cigarette stores in Bangkok and most are located near to learning sources; The closest college is 130 meters away from the neighborhood.
Additionally, according to the study, Bangkok has the highest level of child e-cigarette usage at 32. 3 %.
These young people reportedly purchased the doll seeds in the stores as opposed to placing online purchases.
We’ve discovered that e-cigarette manufacturers have been trying to reach out to younger consumers by providing options in the flavors they prefer, such as Milo and Ovaltine, he said.
” Worse, the manufacturers and sellers also use toy advertising in e-device marketing to convey to consumers that the product is safe for children. “
According to Mr. Patcharapan, all e-cigarettes sold in Thailand are produced in neighboring nations.
Therefore, improving the effectiveness of norms inspections of international shipments is the best way to fix the issue.
Srettha Thavisin, the prime minister and finance minister, just stated that since 2014, e-cigarette imports have been prohibited in Thailand.
The PM ought to direct the Customs Department to take action to stop the entry of e-cigarettes into the country. The recent activity of cat-and-mouse is doubtful to end the problem,” he added.
YOUNG VICTIMS
In order to study e-cigarette use among Thai boys, the university collaborated with the Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Health Service Support next time.
Of 61,688 members with an average period of 15 years old, 25 % said they vaped.
Additionally, it discovered that there were a total of 1 % of children who lived with e-cigarette users. Compared to the group who did n’t live in a smoking environment, the group was three times more likely to adopt the habit.
Kids were among those who were unaware of the risks of e-cigarettes. 14 times more likely to take up cigarettes.
Dr Roengrudi Pathavanich, a professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, said that earlier this month, her group conducted a review at two main schools in Lop Buri and Tak and were shocked by what they found.
She said that 43 % of the students aged 10 years up ( grades 4 to 6 ) in Lop Buri had tried e-cigarettes, and more than half of those were girls.
While in Tak, 22 % of the students in the same age group have used e-cigarettes.
According to reports, the students claimed that it made them feel great and that they also believed that using an e-cigarette was not dangerous.
Of these students, 23 % said they obtained their e-cigarette from a family member, while 20 % reported to have been inspired by social media.
Dr. Roengrudi added that her preceding research found that less than 5 % of children started smoking cigarettes during primary school, and that the majority of them started at the age of 18 on average.
Additionally, according to the study, using an e-cigarette is a gateway to nicotine tobacco because children who use them are five times more likely than to switch to regular cigarettes afterward.
” Baby safety is immediately needed because the variety is so frightful. She argued that the country’s restrictions on e-cigarette selling should be strictly enforced by the government. Then, it will confuse children into thinking the product is safe and suitable to use. “