The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stern warning that the rapid rise of vaping and e-cigarette use—especially among youth—is endangering decades of hard-won progress in reducing global tobacco-related deaths.
Despite public health victories in cutting down smoking rates, e-cigarettes are emerging as a major global health threat, with aggressive marketing and misleading claims fueling a new addiction wave across high- and middle-income nations.
Youth Targeted by Vape Industry Marketing
WHO officials highlighted how e-cigarette companies, many backed by Big Tobacco, are strategically targeting young people with:
- Flavored products (e.g., mango, mint, cotton candy)
- Sleek, tech-inspired designs
- Social media influencer campaigns
- “Smoke-free” wellness branding
“These are not smoking cessation tools—they are gateways to nicotine addiction,” said Dr. Rüdiger Krech, WHO Director of Health Promotion.
Global Gains at Risk
Over the past 20 years, tobacco control efforts have saved millions of lives through:
- Plain packaging laws
- Graphic health warnings
- Public smoking bans
- High taxation
But now, vaping threatens to undo these gains by introducing a new generation to nicotine dependence. WHO estimates that over 37 million teens globally use e-cigarettes, with usage increasing rapidly in the UK, US, India, and Southeast Asia.
WHO Urges Stronger Regulations
In its latest report, the WHO calls on governments to:
- Ban flavored vapes and child-friendly packaging
- Enforce plain packaging and warning labels for e-cigarettes
- Restrict online and social media promotions
- Impose high taxes on vape products
- Treat vaping with the same public health urgency as smoking
Key Takeaways:
- WHO warns that vaping is reversing tobacco control progress, especially among youth.
- Aggressive marketing and flavors are driving global teen e-cigarette use.
- Governments must implement tougher laws, including flavor bans and stricter packaging.
- The global health community urges action now to prevent a “vaping epidemic.”
Source: The Guardian – Vapes Threaten to Undo Gains in Tackling Dangers of Tobacco, WHO Warns
