THE PISQ TIMES

EDITORIAL ARTICLE

THURSDAY, 9:18 AM MARCH 2, 2023

VAPING IS AS BAD AS
SMOKING!
EDITED BY JOSE BAUTISTA

you inhale an aerosol There are several

produced by heating nicotine unanswered questions
(extracted from tobacco), regarding vaping, including
Source: ROGERS ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION flavorings, and other the chemicals that make up
compounds in e-cigarettes. the vapor and their long-
term effects on physical
In low- and middle-income There are 7,000 compounds health. Consumers need to
nations, such as the in regular tobacco cigarettes, be aware that using e-
Philippines, where smoking- many of which are harmful. cigarettes may be harmful
related preventable diseases There's practically no doubt to their health, adds Blaha.
continue to be the leading that vaping exposes you to Recent research indicates
cause of death, more than less hazardous chemicals correlations between e-
80% of the 1.3 billion than smoking conventional cigarette use and
tobacco users live. cigarettes. According to cardiovascular illness, as
Moreover, the use of quickly Blaha, “There’s almost no well as ties to chronic lung
developing nicotine and doubt that vaping exposes you disease and asthma. You
tobacco products, such as to fewer toxic chemicals than are exposing yourself to a
electronic or e-cigarettes or smoking traditional wide variety of substances,
ECs, has been linked to cigarettes.” (Blaha, n.d.). The many of which we do not
health hazards, highlighting main component of both yet fully comprehend and
the significance of stepping traditional cigarettes and e- are probably not safe.
up health research, cigarettes is nicotine, a highly Vaping has become more
education, and addictive substance. If you common among Filipinos,
policymaking on a give in to the temptation, you particularly among the
nationwide and global scale. develop a need for cigarettes younger generation, as a
Vaping is as risky as and experience withdrawal result of more public places
smoking. Although vape and symptoms. Toxic substances banning smoking and rising
e-cigarettes are less harmful include nicotine. It elevates cigarette taxes in the
than cigarretes, It is still not your heart rate and increases nation. The Global Status of
safe. It’s better to chew a the risk of having a heart Tobacco Harm Reduction
chewing gum with good attack by raising your blood (GSTHR) reported there
flavors than breathe an pressure and adrenaline were 82 million vape users
unhealthy flavored air. levels. Is vaping harmful to worldwide in 2021, an
These devices contain you? increase of 17% from the
nicotones previous year.
 THE PISQ TIMES
EDITORIAL ARTICLE

ASEAN
Most youth become insecure
about living their lives if they neighbors
don’t start doing what others Thailand, Cambodia, and
are also doing. Singapore recently
outlawed the import, sale,
The Philippines has been and use of e-cigarettes,
Source: RELX Club Philippines attempting to regulate the while Brunei outlawed the
marketing, sales, and usage of import and sale of e-
As of 2021, 2.7 million tobacco products including e- cigarettes because they are
Filipinos—or around 3% of cigarettes in addition to seen as counterfeit tobacco
the world's vape users— joining the WHO Framework products. E-cigarettes are
belong to this group. The Convention on Tobacco regarded as tobacco
numbers and the variety of Control treaty. Yet, it appears products in Laos and are
illnesses connected to that these rules are not being subject to the country's
vaping are both on the rise. implemented properly current tobacco control
(The Risks of Vaping, 2022). because, for instance, 37% of laws. These nations passed
Many people, including smokers who are underage their laws before the local
younger people has been can easily buy tobacco or e- demand for e-cigarettes
influenced by the use of cigarettes. (YouTube, 2007). rose, easily thwarting any
vape and e-cigarettes. The Likewise, the government is efforts by the tobacco
most frequent reasons currently rushing to enact the industry to use strategies to
young people experiment Vaporised Nicotine Products increase use and
with or use a vaping device Regulation Act (often known distribution of these
are: curiosity, peer pressure as the "vape bill"). The act is products and establish a
(direct or implied), regressive since it lowers the firm foothold in the market.
boredom, it's become a legal smoking age from 21 to In contrast, policies in
normalized behavior (e.g., 18, transfers regulatory Taiwan did not explicitly
seeing friends and family authority from government forbid e-cigarettes as a pre-
use it makes it seem health agencies to trade defined category, making
acceptable and normal), sector agencies, and loosens them available to youth
addiction, they like the "hit" marketing limits on tobacco through online sales. Due to
they get from nicotine, companies. Thanks to the the postponement of
appealing flavors (e.g., fruit, lobbying of legislators who legislative actions, the
candy, dessert), devices are are supporters of the sector, markets in Vietnam and
seen as trendy. Just like you the measure has already Hong Kong are also active.
don't have to smoke or drink reached the final stage of
because your pals do, you ratification. This bill serves as
don't have to vape just an example of how politics
because everyone else is. and the personal interests of
legislators can impact public
Vaping is not about fitting health.
in with the crowd or
embracing the newest craze. Source: Canva.com
 THE PISQ TIMES
EDITORIAL ARTICLE

The Tobacco Regulation According to Medical News

Act of 2003, the country's Today, its long-term effects
first tobacco control law, also weaken the immune
also experienced this delay; system and harm the lungs.
regrettably, the vape bill has We cannot ignore the
not experienced these same potential negative effects of
delays. this, particularly for people
who have co-morbid
Smokers who are found conditions like diabetes,
using vapes in indoor public vascular disease, and
places like government hypertension.
buildings, schools, airports,
and churches face severe The bottom line is to stop
penalties ranging from smoking, whether it's with
P5,000 to P20,000. It has traditional cigarettes or e-
always been illigal to use cigarettes. This practice does
these devices in public. Not not benefit the community or
only you are affecting our health in a positive way.
yourself, but also others These vices are also not cost-
around you. Nearly 200 e- effective, so one would do
cigarette users have better to put their family first
developed severe lung before committing to them.
disease in 22 states, with the Ensure one's health and the
majority of cases occurring family's general wellbeing.
in the teenage population, Quit vaping and smoking!
according to Health
Harvard's most recent
reports. (Vaping (E-
Cigarette) May Be More
Dangerous Than Traditional
Cigarette Smoking, 2021). It
implies that using an
electronic cigarette poses a
risk to the user's health.
Some health issues are
known to slow adolescent
and young adult brain
development and activity.