Combat nicotine and tobacco addiction.

In 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) will continue to choose the theme for World No Tobacco Day (May 31) and National No Tobacco Week (May 25-31) as “Unmasking the Deceptive Appeal – Acting to Combat Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction.” This theme aims to raise awareness about the sophisticated marketing strategies of the tobacco industry.

Representatives from the Central Committee of the Youth Union, the Ministry of Health , WHO, and related units performed the launching ceremony for the communication campaign in response to World No Tobacco Day on May 31st and National No Tobacco Week 2026.

The World Health Organization affirms that e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products both contain nicotine – a highly addictive substance that seriously affects health, especially brain development in children and adolescents.

Besides the risk of lung damage, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, new-generation tobacco products also increase nicotine dependence among young people.

The WHO's chosen theme serves as a reminder that disguised forms of promotion in the digital environment, social media, sponsorship activities, celebrity marketing, etc., are increasing the risk of nicotine addiction in the community.

In Vietnam, over the past years, efforts to prevent and control the harmful effects of tobacco have achieved many positive results.

The Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm, along with related policies, has created an important legal framework for: building a smoke-free environment; controlling advertising, promotion, and sponsorship by the tobacco industry; strengthening health warnings; supporting smoking cessation; raising public awareness; protecting the younger generation from the risk of nicotine addiction...

Policies to prevent and control the harmful effects of tobacco are not only a medical solution, but also a sustainable development policy, an investment in human resources and the future of the country.

However, in Vietnam, the rate of tobacco use remains high among men; the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products is on the rise among young people; online advertising methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated; and the enforcement of smoking bans in some public places is not yet truly effective...

Notably, tobacco and nicotine products are now available in both traditional cigarette forms and as attractively designed flavors, eye-catching packaging, and images that promote them as "technological," "modern," or "less harmful." They are even promoted through social media, celebrities, and other channels that reach teenagers very closely.

In Vietnam, smoking is estimated to cause around 103,000 deaths each year. The economic burden caused by tobacco amounts to hundreds of trillions of dong, including healthcare costs, lost productivity, premature death, and environmental costs.

Meanwhile, the rate of e-cigarette use among students is increasing rapidly. While in 2019, the rate of e-cigarette use among students aged 13-17 was 2.6%, a survey conducted in 11 provinces and cities in 2023 showed that this figure had risen to 8.1%.

In observance of World No Tobacco Day (May 31) and National No Tobacco Week (May 25-31), all levels of government, sectors, and every citizen need to raise awareness of the increasingly sophisticated strategies employed by tobacco corporations worldwide to enhance addictive potential while creating the illusion of "advanced technology."

Stronger actions need to be taken to protect young people; implementing solutions to prevent addiction and reduce demand by equipping the public, especially young people, with the knowledge, methods, and skills to resist the temptations offered by tobacco manufacturers.

The Ministry of Health is currently revising and submitting to the Government and the National Assembly the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm (amended), aiming to address current gaps, make the law more relevant to practice, and protect the achievements in tobacco harm prevention and control that Vietnam has persistently built over many years.

At the rally in response to World No Tobacco Day (May 31) and National No Tobacco Week (May 25-31) held on May 24 in Hai Phong, Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health) and Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, stated that Vietnam is facing the urgent need to maintain and strengthen tobacco control measures, especially in the context of the continued increase of new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

THANH MAI

Source: https://nhandan.vn/day-lui-nan-nghien-nicotine-va-thuoc-la-post964400.html