KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — Addressing the challenge of preventing youth smoking is increasingly complex for parents and public health experts. Despite long-standing advocacy and awareness campaigns, keeping new generations from starting to smoke is becoming more difficult.
She notes that marketing tactics targeting younger consumers often involve creating flavors that mask the harshness of nicotine, making vaping seem more enjoyable than smoking tobacco products. Packaging that presents vaping devices as trendy accessories further contributes to the perception that vaping is stylish and socially acceptable.
Changing Focus: From Tobacco to Vaping
The focus has shifted from traditional tobacco control to managing new, appealing products like e-cigarettes and vapes. These devices, often designed to resemble sleek gadgets, come in a variety of flavors, even more diverse than those of candies. Their attractive design, coupled with affordability and accessibility, has made them particularly enticing to teens and young adults eager to follow new trends and fit in with their peers.Dramatic Increase in E-Cigarette Use
The Health Ministry’s recently released Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2023 reveals a significant rise in e-cigarette use in Malaysia. The number of users has surged by over 600 percent in the last 12 years. In 2011, only 0.8 percent of Malaysians used e-cigarettes, but by 2023, this number had climbed to 5.8 percent. The majority of these users are aged 15 to 24.The Allure of Vaping
Dr. Leevyadhashiny Ganasan, a medical officer with the National Cancer Society of Malaysia, attributes the rise in e-cigarette use to several factors. These include aggressive marketing by e-cigarette companies, the perception of e-cigarettes as a fashionable and modern alternative to traditional smoking, and the availability of appealing flavors. Additionally, there are misconceptions about the safety of e-cigarettes compared to traditional cigarettes.She notes that marketing tactics targeting younger consumers often involve creating flavors that mask the harshness of nicotine, making vaping seem more enjoyable than smoking tobacco products. Packaging that presents vaping devices as trendy accessories further contributes to the perception that vaping is stylish and socially acceptable.
