A seminar on smoking cessation counseling and treatment was held at Bach Mai Hospital on May 28. Dr. Angela Pratt, the Chief Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam, spoke about the rise of e-cigarettes and heated cigarettes as alternatives to traditional cigarettes. However, she cautioned that there is no scientific evidence to support this method, and using multiple types of cigarettes at the same time may increase health risks.
Dr. Pratt emphasized that the WHO does not endorse e-cigarettes as a cessation aid because there is no evidence that they help individuals quit smoking regular cigarettes. Instead, switching to electronic cigarettes and heated cigarettes may lead to continued nicotine addiction and exposure to toxic chemicals. These products contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and harmful to health, especially in children and adolescents.
Associate Professor Dr. Vu Van Giap, Deputy Director of Bach Mai Hospital, highlighted the dangers of smoking, citing the presence of 7,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, 69 of which are carcinogenic. Smoking is linked to 25 different groups of diseases, including various types of cancer, cardiovascular issues, and respiratory diseases.
In Vietnam, there has been a significant increase in the use of new tobacco products among young people. The percentage of new tobacco users in the 13-15 age group doubled from 3.5% in 2022 to 8% in 2023. More than 1,200 individuals were hospitalized last year due to the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, with many of them being teenagers.
Dr. Pratt pointed out that the tobacco industry is actively promoting new nicotine and tobacco products to recruit young smokers through targeted advertising campaigns on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. She urged for a ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to protect young people from their harmful health effects.
In conclusion, Dr
