(kontumtv.vn) – Hospitalizations due to the use of e-cigarette products have increased recently. Most of them are young patients with acute poisoning. In the first 6 months of 2024 alone, the Poison Control Center of Bach Mai Hospital received about 100 cases of e-cigarette poisoning.

Photo caption
Electronic cigarette models come in the form of games and milk cartons that children love.

There are cases of repeated poisoning.

Being treated at Bach Mai hospital for e-cigarette poisoning, male student TM (20 years old, in Hanoi ) is still in the process of recovery.

Previously, after using an electronic cigarette, this male student suddenly had convulsions and lost consciousness; fortunately, his family discovered him in time and took him to a nearby hospital. The patient was then transferred to the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital in a coma, with respiratory failure, convulsions, low blood pressure, kidney failure, and multiple organ damage. The scan results showed that the patient had heart and brain damage.

Worryingly, when the patient’s e-cigarette sample was tested, it was found to contain synthetic marijuana. Previously, the young man had a history of using e-cigarettes for many years. In 2023, the patient was also hospitalized for e-cigarette poisoning; however, after being cured, the young man continued to use e-cigarettes.

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen, Director of the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital, said: “In the first 6 months of 2024 alone, the Center received about 100 cases of e-cigarette poisoning. Meanwhile, in 2022 and 2023, the Poison Control Center (Bach Mai Hospital) received nearly 130 hospitalizations for the same reason. Of which, many samples of the patients' e-cigarettes tested positive for drugs.”

Accordingly, a survey by the Poison Control Center on electronic cigarette samples used by 120 patients showed that 16 of these samples tested positive for drugs (accounting for 13.3%). The results of toxicology tests on some specimens sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine detected drugs with the following ingredients: ADB-Butinaca, MDMD-butinaca; ADB-4en-pinaca; MDMB-4en-pinaca; EDMB-4en-pinaca; THC; PB-22.

According to Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen, the number of hospitalizations due to the use of new tobacco products has recently increased. The use of electronic cigarettes is spreading rapidly, with the majority of young patients suffering from acute poisoning after using electronic cigarettes.

Worryingly, most people and young people now think that e-cigarettes are simple because they do not contain addictive nicotine. This is completely wrong. E-cigarettes contain three groups of health risks: nicotine, artificial flavors, and drugs. Currently, the cost of treatment for mild to severe cases of e-cigarette poisoning from acute to severe cases ranges from over 10 million to hundreds of millions of VND.

“E-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and other new types of tobacco are harmful to health. They initiate a trend of abuse, addiction, uncontrolled exposure to synthetic chemicals and a series of new diseases and other health problems. At the same time, they aggravate and complicate the problem of conventional cigarettes and drugs. Therefore, there is absolutely no need to evaluate, research or allow trial use of these products,” Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen warned.

Easy to buy and sell via social networks

Ms. Nguyen Thi An, Director of HealthBridge Canada in Vietnam, is concerned: “Currently, e-cigarette products can be easily purchased through social networks such as Facebook and e-commerce platforms. We once tried to directly order e-cigarettes, but when we received the package, we saw that the package was labeled as “acne treatment, cosmetics”. This is a way for children to easily “trick” their parents and teachers to buy and use e-cigarettes. During the research process, when we asked why they used e-cigarette products, up to 60% of students who used them said that they got them from friends. With a simple product that costs only about 10,000 VND, students can freely share it in class and use it at an extremely cheap price; they can even buy a new generation of tobacco products by skipping breakfast”.

Worryingly, many parents also find it difficult to recognize the products as electronic cigarettes when these products are “swapped” in name, sold under other names or named after other items; plus the appearance of the products is designed very eye-catching in the form of: milk cartons, on the label are yogurt, ice cream, toys… These products are extremely easy to buy, convenient and can be accessed at any time, even sold at water shops right outside the school gate. This is very dangerous.

“That is why we always emphasize that if tobacco products are only banned for children under 18, it is a failure. Because all products labeled with words like “milk” are products aimed at children. Not to mention, e-cigarette products have attractive flavors for children. Obviously, these products are aimed at children,” Ms. Nguyen Thi An emphasized.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi An, from an economic perspective, “releasing” new tobacco products not only does not bring any economic benefits but also affects the health of future generations in the long run. In particular, if the rate of e-cigarette use among women increases, it will harm reproductive health.

According to the survey, in 2019, the rate of new tobacco use in the 13-17 age group was 2.6%, this rate increased to 3.5% in 2022 and to 7% in 2023. Particularly in the 13-15 age group, the survey in 2023 showed that the usage rate was up to 8%, in which boys used more than girls (10.5% compared to 5.6%). Through the synthesis of reports from nearly 700 medical facilities, it was shown that in 2023 alone, there were more than 1,200 hospitalizations due to the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Symptoms upon hospitalization were mainly due to allergies, poisoning, and acute lung injury.

Experts also proposed that it is necessary to promptly issue a Resolution banning the import, production, distribution and sale of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, as well as banning the advertising and promotion of these products in Vietnam; at the same time, clearly defining the responsibility for enforcement and sanctions. In the long term, it is necessary to transfer and further complete the prohibitions from the resolution into the law amending the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms.

Ta Nguyen/Tin Tuc Newspaper