Act now or face vaping fallout, say health experts
PETALING JAYA: There is no time to waste when it comes to heeding the World Health Organisation's call for the global ban on flavoured tobacco and nicotine products, says Dr Steven KW Chow, president of the Addiction Medicine Association of Malaysia.
He said policymakers must move urgently to treat vaping products, flavoured or otherwise, as harmful substances that must be tightly controlled and not freely marketed as consumer goods.
'The long-term health risks to our population are too great to ignore. There is an immediate need to relist nicotine on the Poison's List,' said Dr Chow, adding that the association fully supports curbing 'the gateway effect' of these products that often paves the way for nicotine addiction and eventual tobacco use.
He said the surge in vaping, particularly among Malaysian adolescents, is a growing public health crisis.
'Flavoured vape products, with their enticing packaging and flavours, create an illusion of safety that glamourises use.
'These products are not only addictive but also contribute to cognitive impairment and increase the risk of transitioning to traditional tobacco use,' he said.
However, considering Malaysia's complex and fragmented regulatory framework, an all-out ban requires absolute political will to overcome the interests driving the vape industry, he said.
'In the current landscape, we strongly advocate for a firm, multi-pronged regulatory approach.
'There should be strict age restrictions with penalties for non-compliance, mandatory regulation of vape devices and liquids, and licensing for manufacturers and sellers to ensure compliance.
'Public health education campaigns are also crucial to dispel the myths about vaping's so-called 'safety',' he added.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations chief executive officer Saravanan Thambirajah echoed WHO's urgent call, saying vape products are engineered to entice people by masking the harshness of tobacco with flavours like fruit, candy, menthol and others.
'In Malaysia, this has led to alarming experimentation and regular use among teenagers and even schoolchildren.
'These flavours accelerate nicotine addiction, often acting as a gateway to traditional cigarette use,' he said as he critiqued the aggressive marketing tactics.
Voicing his support for a comprehensive ban on flavoured products, including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, Saravanan said these flavours are not suitable for adult cessation.
'They're designed for youth initiation,' he said, while also calling for strong enforcement in retail and online spaces, banning child-friendly designs, and launching educational campaigns.
Citing the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2022, which showed one in 10 teenagers aged 13 to 17 are e-cigarette users, Saravanan said there is no more time to waste.
'Flavoured tobacco products are a public health threat, not a lifestyle choice,' he said.
On World No Tobacco Day, WHO called on governments to urgently ban all flavours in tobacco and nicotine products, including cigarettes, pouches, hookahs and e-cigarettes.
As of now, over 50 countries ban flavoured tobacco, while more than 40 prohibit e-cigarette sales, with five banning disposables and seven banning e-cigarette flavours.
However, flavour accessories remain mostly unregulated.
Countries like Belgium, Denmark and Lithuania are taking action, and the WHO is urging others to follow suit.
Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira also urged a ban on flavoured tobacco and nicotine products, highlighting their role in early nicotine addiction.
'We see an alarming trend of youths, both boys and girls, drawn to vaping by sweet flavours,' he said, adding that Malaysia's healthcare system will face the burden of treating vaping-related illnesses and injuries in the coming years, along with nicotine addiction.
Parent Action Group for Education chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim also supported the ban on flavoured tobacco products, citing insufficient parental awareness of their risks.
'Many parents understand smoking's harm but are less informed about flavoured or electronic tobacco dangers,' she said.
Noor Azimah criticised 'problematic and ethically questionable' marketing targeting youth and said there should be a ban to curb experimentation and addiction.
She noted the ban should be part of a comprehensive strategy that includes public education and strict enforcement of age restrictions.
'A holistic approach is crucial to safeguard our youth,' she added.
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