Electronic cigarettes are more addictive than traditional cigarettes
Figures from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that most e-cigarette users not only fail to quit smoking but also fall into a state of “dual addiction”: using both traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Accordingly, e-cigarettes contain more addictive nicotine than traditional cigarettes because it is absorbed faster thanks to the deep inhalation feature when smoking, and this substance also increases the risk of cancer.
In Vietnam, in 2023 alone, there were more than 1,200 hospitalizations due to the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products; of which 81 were first-time users and more than 1,100 were long-term users. The Ministry of Health confirmed that this is a very worrying number, with some cases showing signs of serious disorders. Similar to many countries around the world, Vietnam has also seen many cases of acute lung injury, a new disease caused by e-cigarettes.
According to medical experts, all types of cigarettes are harmful because the main ingredient is nicotine. However, with e-cigarettes, the rate of addiction increases very quickly. Worryingly, the rate of children smoking e-cigarettes is increasing rapidly. Dr. Nguyen Nam Ha, Head of the Ho Chi Minh CityHealth Education and Communication Association, said that e-cigarettes, in addition to nicotine, may contain other substances that users do not know about, because each manufacturer may include different ingredients. Some substances may even be drugs, which are harmful to the body.
“Electronic cigarettes can be even more dangerous than regular cigarettes, because in addition to nicotine, they also contain flavoring agents such as benzene and phenol, which are aromatic substances but can also be harmful to health,” emphasized Dr. Nguyen Nam Ha.
Analyzing the factors that make it difficult for many people to quit e-cigarettes, Dr. Nguyen Nam Ha said that quitting e-cigarettes is more difficult because it affects both physical and mental health and social relationships. Specifically, when the body is tired or sick, people tend to turn to stimulants such as cigarettes to feel better; psychologically, smokers can feel more confident and stable when smoking, leading to psychological dependence on smoking behavior.
Dr. Nguyen Nam Ha said that the social environment also plays an important role in quitting smoking. Encouragement and enticement from friends and colleagues, even unintentionally, can make people increasingly dependent on cigarettes. "In a group of friends where everyone smokes to socialize, it will be very difficult for you to quit smoking," Dr. Ha affirmed.
In addition, MSc. Dr. Nguyen Duy Quoc Khanh, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Health Education and Communication Association, said that e-cigarette smokers can be addicted in all three forms: physical, behavioral and psychological. Dr. Khanh explained that for physical addiction, nicotine in e-cigarettes stimulates the brain to produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that creates a feeling of excitement, also known as the "happiness hormone". This feeling is repeated, causing smokers to form a conditioned reflex, turning to cigarettes whenever they are bored or lack energy.
As for psychological addiction, many people consider e-cigarettes as a tool to relieve stress and find comfort. Over time, they become mentally dependent on it. As for behavioral addiction, they consider e-cigarette smoking a habit that is difficult to quit, associated with daily activities such as drinking coffee and meeting friends.
“E-cigarette addiction is not only about nicotine addiction, but it also permeates our psychology and daily behavior and makes us dependent. That is why quitting e-cigarettes becomes more difficult,” Dr. Nguyen Duy Quoc Khanh emphasized.
How to quit e-cigarettes?
According to medical experts, in order for e-cigarette addicts to successfully quit smoking, a comprehensive solution is needed, combining physical, psychological and social support measures. Doctor Nguyen Nam Ha believes that to maintain health and support the process of quitting smoking, it is necessary to ensure three basic factors: positive psychology, proper nutrition and regular exercise. This is the "three-legged stool" that helps people quitting smoking maintain a stable physical and mental condition.
“In quitting smoking and e-cigarette addiction, psychology and spirit are very important factors. When we are dependent on nicotine because this substance penetrates the brain, causing a feeling of difficulty in quitting, we need a positive mentality to overcome it. To have a positive mentality, you can participate in community activities, help others, support disadvantaged children, the elderly, participate in charity events...; try to study and work to achieve good results, this helps create joy and achievement, thereby gradually forgetting the feeling of craving nicotine, forgetting e-cigarettes", Dr. Ha emphasized.
Dr. Ha emphasized that to arouse the motivation to quit smoking in young people, it is necessary to create a healthy and accessible information environment. Talk shows and health education programs designed to suit the psychology of each age group will help them better understand the potential risks of cigarettes, thereby forming a sense of self-awareness to quit smoking. "However, to be able to easily quit smoking and e-cigarettes, we need support from smaller communities, such as schools, classes, groups of friends... through which you must support each other, creating collective strength to overcome e-cigarettes together," said Dr. Ha.
Typically, recently, a group of students majoring in Multimedia Communications Management, FPT University, Ho Chi Minh City, organized a 15-day event series called “Smoke Off Move On” with the message “Apply good plans, say goodbye to cigarette smoke”. The event series not only brought experiential activities but also featured talks by medical experts on the harmful effects of e-cigarettes, methods to quit smoking and healthy e-cigarettes. This event series attracted hundreds of students from universities in Ho Chi Minh City.
Along with natural methods, Dr. Ha also emphasized the need for supportive medical measures. Specifically, in Western medicine, low-dose nicotine patches, sprays or subcutaneous injections can be used to gradually reduce the amount of nicotine entering the body in a safe and controlled manner. In addition, in traditional medicine, there are methods such as acupuncture, acupressure, and herbal medicine that can also support addiction withdrawal. Although these methods have slower effects, they have long-lasting and stable effects.
On November 30, 2024, the National Assembly passed a Resolution on questioning activities at the 8th Session of the 15th National Assembly. The resolution of the National Assembly clearly stated the following content: The National Assembly agreed to ban the production, trading, import, storage, transportation, and use of electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, gases, and addictive substances that are harmful to human health from 2025, ensuring public health, social order and safety.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/vi-sao-thuoc-la-dien-tu-de-gay-nghien-nhung-lai-kho-bo-post401207.html
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