Action to combat nicotine and tobacco addiction

VHO - On May 22nd in Hanoi, in response to World No Tobacco Day, the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund organized a workshop titled "Updating information on the theme of World No Tobacco Day on May 31st and the situation of implementing policies to prevent and control the harmful effects of tobacco".

“Unmasking the False Attraction – Taking Action to Combat Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction” is the theme chosen by the World Health Organization (WHO) for World No Tobacco Day 2026.

The workshop was held against the backdrop of new challenges facing public health protection, particularly the rise of new-generation tobacco products and sophisticated advertising targeting young people.

Ms. Phan Thi Hai, Deputy Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, delivered a speech.

In her opening remarks at the workshop, Ms. Phan Thi Hai, Deputy Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, stated that, recognizing Vietnam's outstanding achievements in policies to protect the community from the harmful effects of tobacco, the WHO awarded Vietnam the World No Tobacco Day award at the 79th World Health Assembly currently taking place in Geneva (Switzerland).

Four agencies and units under the Ministry of Health were awarded the prize: the Legal Department (Ministry of Health); the Institute of Health Policy and Strategy; the Poison Control Center (Bach Mai Hospital); and the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund. The Permanent Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Vu Manh Ha, personally received the award from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom.

Recent achievements in Vietnam include tobacco tax reform policies that are estimated to help 2.1 million people in Vietnam quit or not smoke by 2031; prevent 700,000 premature deaths in the coming decades; generate an additional 24 trillion VND in state budget revenue annually by 2031; and limit access to cheap cigarette brands, especially among young people.

In 2026, the WHO chose the theme for World No Tobacco Day as “Unmasking the False Appeal – Acting to Combat Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction.” This message is meaningful and timely, given that the tobacco industry is employing many new marketing strategies to create a “modern,” “less harmful,” and “trendy” image for nicotine-containing products, particularly targeting teenagers, women, and young people.

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.

Delegates present their papers at the conference.

Experts affirm that, in any form, tobacco products and nicotine are harmful to health, creating a burden of disease, economic and social costs. Tobacco is the cause of many dangerous diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and many other health problems. Not only does it affect the user, but tobacco smoke also seriously harms those around them, especially women and children.

According to statistics, in Vietnam, smoking is estimated to cause approximately 103,000 deaths each year. The economic burden caused by tobacco amounts to hundreds of trillions of VND, including healthcare costs, lost labor productivity, premature death, and environmental costs.

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%.

This isn't just a new consumer trend. It's a sign of the growing risk of nicotine addiction among younger generations, creeping into schools, families, and the lives of teenagers.

To protect the health of the people in general and the younger generation in particular, and to create a comprehensive and robust legal framework suitable for development, in 2026, the Ministry of Health will submit to the Government and the National Assembly amendments and additions to the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm.

One of the notable points is the Ministry of Justice's proposal to add a provision "Prohibiting people born on or after January 1, 2010 from buying or using tobacco products" to the draft amendment law.

The Ministry of Health has requested the Government to consider and decide whether to include this content now or to plan for its inclusion at a time more appropriate to Vietnam's economic and social conditions.

Assessing the impact of the policy "Prohibiting people born on or after January 1, 2010 from buying and using tobacco products," the Ministry of Health stated that, if implemented and complied with, it would be highly effective in reducing smoking rates and rapidly decreasing the number of passive smokers; contributing to protecting people's health, reducing significant healthcare costs, and mitigating losses due to lost labor productivity.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/doi-song/hanh-dong-de-day-lui-nan-nghien-nicotine-va-thuoc-la-230505.html