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Impact of New-age Gateway Devices on Children

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September 03, 2024

Why in news?

Recently Australia has passed the world-first bill that bans all vapes from general retail later this year.

What are the New-age gateway devices?

  • New Age gateway devices - These are devices that were introduced and marketed as a healthier alternative to smoking that would make it easier to quit tobacco.
  • FormsSome of the tobacco product used to describe electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are
    • Vapes, vaporizers, vape pens, hookah pens, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or e-cigs), e-cigars, e-pipes, Heat-not-burn (HNB) devices & other heated tobacco products (HTPs) are
  • These are highly engineered drug delivery devices.
  • Following a puff, the aerosol is delivered to the user’s mouth and lungs and the rest is exhaled.
  • The e-liquid contains a range of ingredients such as propylene glycol, nicotine and flavourings.

To know more about e-cigarette, click here

What are the impacts of new-age gateway devices in children?

  • Affect development of children - These new-age gateway devices led to a surge in youth vaping, creating a new pandemic.
    • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2023, e-cigarettes were most commonly used product among middle and high school students in United States.
  • Health Issues – Continued use of these devices, poses irreversible health risks like lung damage and the e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI).
  • Mental health issues – It leads to mental health challenges such as depressive symptoms, anxiety, perceived stress, and suicide-related behaviours among adolescents.
  • Social Issues - Those who vape are more likely to experience feelings of loneliness and social isolation when compared to their peers who abstain from these.
  • Addiction – E-cigarettes are highly addictive, particularly for individuals up to around the age of 25.
  • Benzoic acid in nicotine e-liquid produces protonated nicotine which enhances the addictive potential.
  • Cyclical effect – This is a developmental stage which makes them especially vulnerable to structural and chemical changes induced by nicotine addiction.
  • Once addiction takes root, it can increase the likelihood of developing other substance use disorders later in life.
  • E-Waste - There are no practical means to collect or recycle vapes.
  • Environmental Issues – volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, such as nickel, tin and lead have toxic effects on the environment – land, air, water.

Why children’s are highly susceptible to addiction?

  • The age group most at risk remains between 10 and 20 years old, a demographic that manufacturers allegedly exploit through appealing advertising and enticing vaping flavours.
  • Targeted advertisements – The colourful imagery created by these new-age gateway devices suggests that these products will bring happiness and elevate one’s social status.
  • It is marketed with addition of flavours such as strawberry, cotton candy, pop rocks, and lemonade.
  • Technology Addiction – Excessive technology usage is driving some children towards these addictive devices.
  • Peer influenceFriends’ positive attitudes towards vaping is the major introductory factor.
  • Children often prioritise peer preferences over their own, leading them to embrace it.
  • Lack of Awareness - Many children, teenagers, and even parents mistakenly believe that vaping only involves harmless water vapour and pleasant flavours.

How India regulates new-age smoking alternatives?

  • Indian had passed Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act in 2019.
  • Ban – It prohibits the production, trade, storage, and advertisement of electronic cigarettes in India.
  • Punishments - Any person stores any stock of e-cigarettes, will be punishable with an imprisonment of up to six months, or a fine of up to Rs 50,000 or both.
  • Any person who contravenes other restrictive provision will be punishable with imprisonment of up to one year, or a fine of up to one lakh rupees, or both.

What lies ahead?

  • Comprehensively ban all the all forms of new age gateway devices such as Hookah, vapes.
  • Stop the promotion of ENDS as the alternatives to conventional tobacco products.
  • Create awareness among people about the negative impacts of all forms of new age gateway devices.
  • Strengthen the surveillance and enforcement capacity for effective enforcement of the ban.

References

  1. The Hindu | New-age gateway devices, the latest health threat
  2. The Hindu | How do vapes work

 

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