TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A recent survey by the Health Promotion Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare has revealed a concerning rise in electronic cigarette usage among junior high school students in Taiwan, doubling from 1.9% to 3.9% between 2018 and 2021.
In contrast, traditional and heated tobacco product usage declined over the same period, with smoking rates dropping from 2.8% to 2.2% and heated tobacco product usage from 2% to 0.8%, respectively.
Youth Misled by Marketing Tactics
Speaking to the media, Lo Su-ying (羅素英), the head of the tobacco control division at the Health Promotion Administration, highlighted on Monday (May 13) that marketing strategies for new tobacco products are misleading youths into believing these products are harmless.
This misconception is dangerous, as the World Health Organization (WHO, 世界衛生組織) has warned that electronic and heated cigarettes expose users and those around them to toxic and carcinogenic secondhand smoke environments, Lo added.
Studies have shown that individuals who use e-cigarettes are at least twice as likely to start smoking traditional cigarettes, which can lead to increased stress levels and various diseases, including cancer and diabetes.
Lo emphasized that smoking does not relieve stress but rather harms the brain and can lead to multiple diseases.
Legislative Measures and Enforcement
Following the implementation of the amended Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act (菸害防制法) on March 22 last year, which made the manufacture, import, or sale of electronic cigarettes and unassessed heated tobacco products illegal in Taiwan, there have been no heated tobacco products that have passed health risk assessments as of April 25. Only three applications are currently under review.
To combat the online sale of emerging tobacco products to minors, the Health Promotion Administration has collaborated with local health units, resulting in fines totaling NT$33.43 million by the end of last year.