Electronic cigarettes still cause harm

If it looks "delicious, fragrant, and cheap", then buy it.

Recently, we went to an internet cafe in Tu Ky district. Some young people in the cafe, aged 18-25, held Vape, Pod (electronic cigarette device), inhaled and then skillfully exhaled white smoke.

One of them, Mr. NQM (23 years old), said that he has been smoking e-cigarettes for 4 years now and it is very difficult to quit, even though he has been informed about their harmful effects. When asked about their origin, Mr. M. did not know anything, he just bought them because they were “delicious, fragrant, and cheap”.

Mr. M. shared that it is now more difficult to buy e-cigarette essential oils than before, possibly because they are banned, so he has to buy them online through some closed groups on Facebook.

From Mr. M.'s information, we accessed a number of "hidden" closed groups selling e-cigarette essential oils. Some anonymous accounts openly advertise the sale of e-cigarette essential oils of all types, with phone numbers or QR codes attached for convenient exchange. A bottle of e-cigarette essential oils from 5 - 30 ml is sold at prices ranging from 150,000 - 500,000 VND.

Even when we searched on Google for the keyword “buy electronic cigarettes - vape”, many results appeared about advertising places that sell “genuine, reputable, cheap”, even with all kinds of popular electronic cigarette essential oils. The introductions and advertisements on “stimulate” young people’s curiosity to find out more.

Through research, some young people also use e-cigarettes due to habit, the psychology of imitating friends, or to reduce stress...

Mr. NXH (22 years old) in Thanh Ha district, who smokes e-cigarettes, said: “I learned about e-cigarettes through a friend’s recommendation. Because e-cigarettes are advertised as having many flavors and being less harmful than regular cigarettes, I bought them and tried them. Using them often becomes a habit.”

Has been banned

The dangers of electronic cigarettes have been warned by many experts and there have been cases of hospitalization due to its harmful effects.

According to experts, like traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products cause many consequences for the user and those around them. This type of cigarette contains nicotine, which is addictive and can cause memory loss, stroke, reduced immunity, reduced resistance, and more seriously, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, asthma, stroke, cardiovascular disease, cancer, etc. This cigarette can explode, directly affecting the health of the user. Every year, at least 80,000 Vietnamese people die from tobacco-related diseases.

In Hai Duong, many cases related to e-cigarettes have been detected and handled by the authorities. At 10:20 a.m. on December 27, 2023, at the motel rented by Mr. Pham Van Tam (born in 1993, in Thong Nhat commune, Gia Loc) from a resident in Mieu Lang village, Dong Lac commune (Nam Sach), the working group of Nam Sach district police discovered 45 plastic cans containing liquid solution equivalent to nearly 1,000 liters and 363 sets of e-cigarette tools without invoices or documents proving their origin, violating the provisions of the law.

On April 25, 2024, the Working Group of the Economic - Drug Team, Cam Giang District Police discovered and seized 1,000 electronic cigarettes of unknown origin belonging to Chieu A Tai (born in 1994, permanent resident of Quang Lam commune, Dam Ha district, Quang Ninh; temporary resident of VSIP Luong Dien urban area, Cam Giang). The above cigarettes were hidden by Chieu A Tai to sell to others.

The National Assembly agreed to ban the production, trading, import, storage, transportation, and use of electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, gases, and addictive substances that are harmful to human health from 2025 to ensure public health, social order, and safety.

From there, the Ministry of Health has drafted a Decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 117/2020/ND-CP dated September 28, 2020 of the Government regulating administrative sanctions for violations in the health sector.

The Ministry of Health proposes a fine of 1-2 million VND for the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. The fine is double the fine prescribed above for repeat offenders. The remedial measure is to force the destruction of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products; send a notice of administrative penalty to the agency or organization where the violator works or studies so that the agency or organization can handle the violation according to the regulations, rules and regulations of the agency or organization.