Electronic cigarettes are not yet allowed to circulate in Vietnam but advertising is widespread.

Smoking electronic cigarettes can cause poisoning. Photo: T. Thao

Many students hospitalized because of electronic cigarettes

In May, Quang Ninh General Hospital admitted two high school students who were poisoned by smoking electronic cigarettes. Patients VBN and NTQ (17 years old, residing in Ha Long City) were admitted with symptoms of irritation, rapid breathing, sweating, dizziness, and nausea.

About an hour before being admitted to the hospital, the two students smoked e-cigarettes and then felt nauseous, weak in the limbs, dizzy and nauseous. The doctor said the students were otherwise healthy and used e-cigarettes infrequently.

At the hospital, the doctor diagnosed both of them with e-cigarette poisoning. The on-duty team quickly provided first aid and transferred them to the Intensive Care Unit for monitoring and treatment.

Also in Quang Ninh, in April, Bai Chay Hospital admitted four 15-year-old students in a state of dizziness, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, and weakness in the limbs after smoking a new generation of cigarettes, and was diagnosed with nicotine poisoning. One of the four patients said that "he just tried smoking, but did not expect to be hospitalized".

Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Tien Thang, Deputy Head of the Emergency Department, Quang Ninh General Hospital, said that e-cigarette poisoning often occurs in middle school and high school students, and adolescents, because this is the age when the brain is still developing and is easily affected by stimulants.

Moreover, children at this age also have the need to express themselves and try new feelings. Common symptoms of e-cigarette poisoning include feeling dizzy, having difficulty breathing, feeling weak in the limbs, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and more severe cases include heart rhythm disturbances, coma, and loss of consciousness.

NTA and the seized exhibits. Photo: Dam Ha District Police, Quang Ninh

Strengthening treatment measures

The Ministry of Health said that Vietnam is still among the countries with the highest number of smokers in the world. In recent years, products called electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco, and shisha have appeared. These products are currently not allowed to be imported, traded, or circulated in the domestic market, however, their purchase, sale, and advertising are widespread.

These products are designed in a variety of styles and flavors that are very attractive to young people, which leads to the rapid increase in the use of electronic cigarettes in our country, especially among students.

Dam Ha District Police (Quang Ninh) said that the buying, selling, advertising, and introducing of new generation tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes and shisha mainly take place on websites, e-commerce sites, and retail stores. The majority of users are still young people between the ages of 16 and 30.

Faced with the consequences that e-cigarettes leave on users, especially young people, and the situation of drug crimes "hiding" under the guise of food, drinks, herbs, and e-cigarettes, authorities in Quang Ninh have increased measures to propagate, detect, and combat...

On August 14, information from Dam Ha District Police said that the unit is consolidating the administrative violation case file against NTA (20 years old, permanent resident of Tan Binh Commune, Dam Ha District) for selling electronic cigarettes of unknown origin to others.

The unit inspected and seized evidence including 5 electronic cigarettes and 850,000 VND. Expanding the investigation, Dam Ha District Police seized 40 electronic cigarettes of unknown origin at TA's house, with the intention of selling them to others.

Previously, on May 10, at Hoang Van Thu Street, Dam Ha Town, the District Police consecutively discovered 2 cases, 2 subjects were involved in the trading of electronic cigarettes.

At the end of 2022, Ha Long City Police (Quang Ninh) said that they had discovered, inspected and seized nearly 1,000 sets of electronic cigarettes of various types. From April 20 to May 15, professional teams and ward and commune police in Ha Long discovered and handled 13 violations related to laughing gas, electronic cigarettes, and shisha, seizing many exhibits, including 1,336 electronic cigarettes, 334 bottles of essential oils, 83 accessories containing essential oils, 101 accessories for electronic cigarettes, 4 Vape tools, and many other related tools.

According to Vietnamnet