In conjunction with World No Tobacco Day on May 31, 2023, Lung Cancer Network Malaysia (LCNM) would like to highlight that tobacco-related products are responsible for approximately eight million annual deaths globally, including that of one million non-smokers, and remains a leading cause of bronchogenic lung cancer.
Globally, there is emerging strong evidence that use of e-cigarettes leads to a four to fivefold increase in tobacco smoking initiation. Recently published data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2022 shows a worrying trend of increasing use of e-cigarettes and vapes among adolescents from 9.8 per cent (in 2017) to 14.9 per cent (2022).
Presently, almost a quarter of all male youth (23.3 per cent) and 6.2 per cent of female teenagers vape. With the recent declassification of liquid and gel nicotine as a poison, vaping and e-cigarette devices can now be legally sold to anyone, including children and adolescents, for recreational use.
LCNM is aware that e-cigarettes and vapes may have a potential role as a harm reduction tool to facilitate smoking cessation. However, such devices must be carefully regulated and ideally prescribed and monitored by a trained health professional like a physician or pharmacist.
The revised Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 will not criminalise possession but ban the sale to and use of such products by anyone born after January 1, 2007.
It is sensible, much-needed legislation that must be swiftly and robustly passed and implemented to protect our vulnerable youth before another generation of smokers is enslaved by nicotine.
The glaring gap in the current legislation allowing sale of e-cigarettes and vapes with impunity to minors must be plugged urgently.
We implore the government not to further delay tabling of the said Bill. To do so will risk more innocent lives unnecessarily.
Once again, LCNM calls on all elected parliamentarians across the political divide to provide unwavering and unanimous support for this crucial legislation.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
