WHO raises the alarm: flavored e-cigarettes tempt young people!
WHO raises the alarm: flavored e-cigarettes tempt young people!
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the alarm for the World Nut Rasper Day and calls for a comprehensive ban on flavored tobacco products that particularly appeal to young people. According to kosmo , flavors such as gummy bears and cotton candy products are attractive. This has worrying effects on the future generation. The WHO study shows that in 2022 12.5% of young e-cigarettes consumed in the WHO European region, while only 2% of adults resorted to it.
The WHO indicates a questionable connection between flavored products and serious lung diseases. WHO General Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns of a "new wave of addiction", which is favored by such products. Every year around 8 million people die from the consequences of tobacco consumption, which underlines the urgency of this demand.
The role of marketing and packaging
The appealing packaging and aggressive advertising on social media target younger target groups. These marketing strategies hardly make the health risks visible, which leads to a dangerous normalization of nicotine consumption. According to an examination, almost 20,000 e-liquids were discovered in 250 flavors, with many of them being sweet or minty. The WHO reports that all flavors in e-cigarettes were only forbidden in four countries of the WHO region in 2022 and that only eleven countries have complete advertising bans for e-cigarettes.
The tobacco and nicotine industry apply e-cigarettes as harmless alternatives. However, scientists warn that this is misleading because the flavored products cover the unpleasant properties of nicotine and tobacco. Cooling active ingredients such as menthol also increase the addiction potential. Reduce acceptance of these products.
Current situation in Austria
In Austria, 1.5 million people from 15 years from the age of 15, which correspond to 21% of the population. Five percent of the population use e-cigarettes almost daily, while six percent consume other tobacco and nicotine products. According to the nutrition and health data, about half of all smokers show the desire to quit smoking. In Vienna in particular, the proportion of smokers is 30.4%, which is above average.
The Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) warns of supposedly harmless alternatives to the classic cigarette and offers a number of programs. This includes free weaning courses such as "nicotine-free in six weeks" and a smoke-free phone on 0800-810013, which provide free advice from health psychologists. Political measures, such as the reduction of cigarette machines, could contribute to improving the health situation.
In Burgenland, the Cancer Aid together with the "Don’t Smoke" initiative becomes active in order to clarify the risks of alternative smoke products and to counteract a dangerous trend. The WHO and other organizations are calling for governments worldwide to take determined steps to prevent the spread of flavored tobacco products.
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| Ort | Wien, Österreich |
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