Hospitalisations on the rise among young people in Vietnam due to e-cigarette poisoning
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The alarming rise in hospitalizations among young people in Vietnam due to e-cigarette poisoning is a stark warning of the dangers lurking within these seemingly innocuous devices. While marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, the reality is far more sinister. E-cigarettes, laced with harmful chemicals and addictive substances, are silently wreaking havoc on the health of Vietnamese youth, leaving a trail of hospitalization and even death in their wake.
A Growing Crisis: The Numbers Tell the Story
The stark reality of the situation is reflected in the alarming figures. In the first six months of 2024 alone, the Poison Control Centre at Hanoi’s Bach Mai Hospital treated nearly 100 cases of e-cigarette poisoning. This represents a significant increase from the previous years, with nearly 130 cases recorded in both 2022 and 2023. The alarming trend, however, goes beyond the sheer number of cases. The severity of the poisonings is also on the rise, with young patients suffering from acute poisoning, multiple organ damage, and even coma.
One particularly harrowing case involved a 20-year-old man who was rushed to Bach Mai Hospital in a comatose state after experiencing severe respiratory failure, multiple organ damage, brain and heart injuries, and kidney failure. The cause? E-cigarette use laced with synthetic cannabis. This incident highlights the insidious nature of e-cigarette poisoning, often leading to life-threatening complications and devastating long-term health consequences.
Beyond Nicotine: The Hidden Dangers of E-cigarettes
The misconception that e-cigarettes are harmless because they lack nicotine is a dangerous fallacy. E-cigarettes, in reality, are a cocktail of harmful substances that pose significant health risks. Nicotine, a highly addictive substance, is a major component of e-cigarettes, leading to dependence and addiction. However, the dangers extend far beyond nicotine.
Artificial flavorings, commonly used to enhance the appeal of e-cigarettes, are often laden with toxic chemicals, some of which are known to be carcinogenic. These chemicals can irritate the lungs, triggering allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems.
Furthermore, the increasing prevalence of drugs in e-cigarettes is a major cause for concern. The presence of synthetic cannabinoids, such as ADB-Butinaca, MDMB-Butinaca, and THC, in e-cigarette samples has been confirmed through toxicology tests. These drugs, often used recreationally, can have severe side effects, including hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and even death.
Accessibility and Affordability: Fueling the Epidemic
The ease with which young people can access and afford e-cigarettes is a major contributing factor to the rising epidemic. E-cigarettes are readily available online through social media platforms and e-commerce sites, often disguised as harmless products. The low cost of these products, typically around VND 10,000 (S$0.53), makes them easily accessible to students, who may skip a meal or share the cost with friends.
Moreover, the deceptive marketing strategies used by e-cigarette manufacturers, using appealing flavors and packaging, are effectively targeting young people. The lack of adequate regulations and enforcement has allowed these products to be sold freely, even near schools, further exacerbating the problem.
A Call for Urgent Action: Protecting the Future
The escalating crisis demands urgent action from the Vietnamese government and health authorities. Experts are calling for an immediate ban on the import, production, distribution, and sale of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Strict regulations need to be implemented to ban advertising and promotion, preventing these harmful products from reaching vulnerable young people.
In the long term, these regulations should be incorporated into the revised Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm. The government must allocate resources to educate the public, particularly young people, about the dangers of e-cigarettes and the importance of avoiding them.
The health and well-being of future generations are at stake. It is imperative that Vietnam takes decisive action to address the growing e-cigarette epidemic and protect its youth from the insidious dangers of these products.
What is causing the rise in hospitalizations among young people in Vietnam?
The rise in hospitalizations among young people in Vietnam is due to e-cigarette poisoning.
What are some of the severe health consequences young patients are experiencing from e-cigarette poisoning?
Young patients are suffering from acute poisoning, multiple organ damage, coma, severe respiratory failure, brain and heart injuries, and kidney failure.
Are e-cigarettes truly harmless because they lack nicotine?
No, e-cigarettes are not harmless. They contain harmful substances beyond nicotine, such as artificial flavorings laden with toxic chemicals and the increasing prevalence of drugs, posing significant health risks.
How many cases of e-cigarette poisoning were treated by the Poison Control Centre at Hanoi’s Bach Mai Hospital in the first six months of 2024?
In the first six months of 2024, the Poison Control Centre at Hanoi’s Bach Mai Hospital treated nearly 100 cases of e-cigarette poisoning.
