In response to World No Tobacco Day on May 31, 2026, the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund is collaborating to organize the workshop "Unmasking the False Appeal - Taking Action to Combat Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction".
This message comes amidst the growing trend of new-generation tobacco products infiltrating the lives of young people through sophisticated digital advertising methods.
According to representatives of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, 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 promotional content on social media, sponsorships, and celebrity marketing are increasing the risk of nicotine addiction in the community.
Health experts affirm that, in any form, tobacco and nicotine-containing products are harmful to health. Not only does it directly affect the user, but tobacco smoke also has serious impacts on those around them, especially women and children.
Increased risk of nicotine addiction among young people.
One of the most worrying issues today is the rapid increase in the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products among teenagers.
According to data presented at the conference, while the rate of e-cigarette use among students aged 13 to 17 was 2.6% in 2019, a survey conducted in 11 provinces and cities in 2023 showed that this rate had increased to 8.1%.
New-generation tobacco products no longer exist only in the form of traditional cigarettes but are designed with many attractive flavors, eye-catching packaging, and imagery associated with modern technology. Many products are marketed as a “less harmful” option, creating a false sense of security for users, especially teenagers.
However, behind that facade lies nicotine – a highly addictive substance that can seriously affect the brain development, learning ability, emotions, and mental health of children and young people.
Representatives from the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund stated that the risk of nicotine addiction is becoming more prevalent among younger people and is infiltrating schools, families, and society. This is no longer simply a new consumer trend but has become a public health issue requiring urgent attention.
Strengthening policies to protect public health.
Despite new challenges, tobacco control efforts in Vietnam have achieved many positive results in recent times thanks to the coordination of ministries, departments, localities, and the media.
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, and raising public awareness.
At the workshop, the Tobacco Control Fund also announced that Vietnam had recently been awarded the World No Tobacco Day Award by the World Health Organization to four units under the Ministry of Health , including the Legal Department, the Institute of Health Strategy and Policy, the Poison Control Center of Bach Mai Hospital, and the Tobacco Control Fund. The award recognizes Vietnam's outstanding efforts in developing and implementing policies to protect the community from the harmful effects of tobacco.
According to experts, recent reforms, including the policy of increasing tobacco taxes, are expected to help approximately 2.1 million people quit or not smoke by 2031, prevent about 700,000 premature deaths in the coming decades, and generate an additional 24 trillion VND for the state budget each year.
Notably, the National Assembly passed Resolution 173/2024/QH15 prohibiting the production, trading, import, transportation, storage, and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. This is considered a strong step to protect public health, especially the younger generation, from the risk of nicotine addiction.
In 2026, the Ministry of Health will continue to revise and submit to the Government and the National Assembly the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm in order to address current legal gaps, align with new practices, and protect the achievements in tobacco harm prevention and control that have been built up over many years.
Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/vach-tran-su-hap-dan-gia-tao-cua-thuoc-la-the-he-moi-post778765.html
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