Technological innovations have packaged nicotine in an accessible and attractive form for children, which has seriously threatened the health rights of young people through e-cigarettes. Their spread represents a serious, large-scale crisis that hinders public health efforts and directly contravenes the state’s obligation under international treaties. Understanding the scale of the harm from e-cigarettes is critical for policy to be oriented toward children’s interests and not industry profit.
Research Results
Studies show that the rate of e-cigarette use among children and adolescents is increasing at an alarming speed:
The Problem in Schools: For example, at the beginning of 2024, a school in England reported that an e-cigarette detector signal was triggered 112 times in one day. This is compounded by surveys showing that students skip school due to nicotine dependence, and some children avoid school restrooms because vaping is common there. These facts clearly reflect the severity of the problem in educational institutions.
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) assessment indicates that 7.2% of children aged 13 to 15 use e-cigarettes. This statistic confirms that use is a growing global trend and is spreading in almost all regions of the world.
Primary Risks:
Brain Structures are still developing during adolescence, making the nervous system particularly sensitive to the toxic effects of nicotine. It negatively affects cognitive functions, manifested by a decline in concentration and memory. Emotional control mechanisms are also damaged, making mood unstable and sharply increasing physical and psychological dependence on nicotine.
Young e-cigarette users are three times more likely to later become traditional tobacco smokers.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) obligates states to protect children’s right to health (Article 24) and ensure the prioritization of their best interests (Article 3). These legal requirements are strengthened by the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Many countries fail to adequately regulate e-cigarettes, thereby exposing young people to the risk of nicotine exposure and dependence development. This is a direct violation of legal obligations under international treaties. Protecting children from harmful products is not just an ethical issue; it is a legal duty.
Industrial Marketing and Regulatory Gaps
Manipulation with “Harm Reduction”: The tobacco industry uses the term “harm reduction” to justify the widespread accessibility of e-cigarettes. The industry’s “harm reduction” argument is limited only to helping adult smokers switch from traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes. At the same time, they completely ignore the massive harm caused to children who start using nicotine through vapes.
Effectiveness Problem: E-cigarettes are not officially approved as a safe or effective means of smoking cessation. Because of this, many smokers do not quit traditional cigarettes and become “dual users” (using both e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes).
“Inverse Priorities”: The governments of many countries fail to keep up with the regulation of e-cigarettes (for example, 62 countries do not have appropriate restrictions), which is why these products are more popular among children than adults. Manufacturers’ marketing (attractive flavors and packaging) is clearly aimed at young people. Policy that prioritizes the potential benefits for adult smokers over the clear harm inflicted on children directly violates children’s rights.
The Necessity of Child-Centric Regulation
Using the international legal framework, countries must adopt regulations that prioritize the best interests of the child:
Bans and Limits: Establish strict age restrictions, prohibit e-cigarette advertising, and ban flavors attractive to young people.
Accessibility Control: Restrict sales near schools and adopt labeling and packaging laws similar to those applied to tobacco products.
Online Control: Governments must regulate social media marketing and online sales.
The long-term effects of e-cigarettes are still unclear, but it is obvious that the harm inflicted on young people today extends to future generations. Therefore, it is essential that political priorities are correctly set to protect children’s interests.
Source: bmj
