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Used as a Gateway to Lifetime Addiction for Children, Says NCPCR Chief Kanoongo
o Health and Child Rights Experts Warn Against E-Cigarette and Vape Use
o Misleading Narrative Claims Vapes and E-Cigarettes are Healthier Alternatives
o The 10-19 Year Age Group Children is Their Primary Target
o Being illegally sold in 600 Enticing Flavors, Including Bubble Gum and Sugar Candy
New Delhi, 28th July 2024: Health and child rights experts are raising alarms about the increasing portrayal of e-cigarettes and vapes as healthier alternatives to traditional tobacco products, warning that these products are also being used as a gateway to traditional tobacco use. They caution that this misleading narrative is a strategic attempt by the industry to target and trap the young population, particularly those aged 10 to 19 years. NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo also warned that these products are being promoted by anti-national forces to ensnare our youth. States are urged to take immediate and stringent measures to combat this threat.
“E-cigarettes and vapes are as dangerous as tobacco and drugs for our country. Once a child is addicted to these products, they can easily be drawn to other forms of tobacco,” said Priyank Kanoongo, Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), at a webinar organized by Tobacco Free India, a citizens’ initiative, on Sunday. The webinar was moderated by Arun Anand, a writer and senior journalist.
The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, enacted in 2019, bans all such products, including e-cigarettes and vapes. This law was implemented as India was already the second-largest market for tobacco, attracting many foreign-based companies looking to tap into the Indian market for vapes and e-cigarettes.
Mr. Kanoongo, head of India’s child rights body, highlighted, the urgent need for vigilance, stating, “Our youth are being targeted by anti-national forces through the promotion of banned e-cigarettes and vapes. These products are being used as a gateway to lifelong addiction, threatening the health and future of our young population. It is imperative that state governments implement strict measures to combat this menace and protect our children from falling prey to these harmful substances. We must remain resolute in our commitment to safeguarding the wellbeing of our nation’s youth.”
Dr Naveen Thacker, the distinguished President of the International Pediatric Association (IPA), voiced serious concerns about the tobacco industry’s tactics. “The industry is falsely promoting e-cigarettes and vapes as ‘healthy’ and harmless alternatives to traditional tobacco, with a relentless focus on targeting the youth. This is a blatant lie. These products are just as harmful, and their deliberate targeting of children is unmistakable,” he stated.
Dr Thacker underscored the critical need for heightened awareness among children and parents to prevent the use of these hazardous products among young people. “The industry uses social media and e-commerce platforms to trap young children, leveraging influencers and even experts to lure them. Their targeting of young people is evident with flavors like bubble gum and sugar candy, being illegally sold in 600 enticing varieties. The misconception that they are safer than traditional tobacco must be eradicated,” he added.
Dr Sudhanshu Kumar, Associate Professor at the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, remarked, “The industry consistently argues against such legal provisions, claiming they will reduce government revenue and promote the black market. However, saving lives must take precedence, and this approach is the only effective solution. Many other countries are now striving to follow our lead.”
He asserted that stringent regulations are crucial to safeguarding the population from the dangers of e-cigarettes and traditional tobacco products. “Our commitment to these regulations must remain unwavering,” he added.
Dr Pragya Shukla, Head of the Department of Clinical Oncology at Delhi State Cancer Institute and a renowned public health expert, emphasized the importance of countering industry tactics that portray e-cigarettes as healthy and market them to children. She stated, “All our health experts and international health bodies, including the WHO, fully support India’s move to ban e-cigarettes.” The WHO has called this ban “a strong and definitive step to protect its citizens, especially the youth and children, from the increasing risk of nicotine addiction.”
Before implementing the ban, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) published a detailed report highlighting the negative health impacts of e-cigarette use, noting that they could lead to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Dr Shukla stressed the need for continued vigilance and strong regulations to safeguard public health.
