World Health Organisation chief labels e-cigarettes 'harmful,' advocating stricter controls to shield children and teenagers.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and STOP, a global tobacco industry watchdog, released a report titled “Hooking the Next Generation,” highlighting the tobacco and nicotine industry's policy environment, marketing campaigns, and product development mechanisms to hook the youth.
This report comes just ahead of World No Tobacco Day on May 31, which reinforces government intervention and amplifies young voices against tobacco and nicotine industry tactics.
Alarming statistics
The report reveals that approximately 37 million children aged 13-15 worldwide use tobacco, with e-cigarette usage among adolescents surpassing that of adults.
Alarmingly, 20% of 15-year-olds in the WHO European Region reported using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days.
The Global Youth Tobacco Surveys indicate even higher tobacco use rates in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, with up to 35% of boys and 30% of girls using tobacco in some countries. This region also records the highest average tobacco use rates for boys at 15%.