Dangerous trend: A doctor discusses the health risks of vaping and its impact on youth.

"Electronic cigarettes are harmful due to the toxic chemicals in their composition. E-liquids containing nicotine are particularly dangerous, as nicotine is a potent neurotoxin that causes addiction," she stated.

According to her, the aerosol produced during their use contains components such as glycerin, propylene glycol, flavorings, as well as carcinogens like acetaldehyde and formaldehyde. These substances provoke inflammation and damage to lung tissue, which can lead to diseases such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute respiratory distress syndrome, and even lung cancer.

– What age group of electronic cigarette consumers is there in Uzbekistan?

– Practice shows that the majority of citizens in Uzbekistan who complain about health issues due to regular vape use are young people aged 16 to 30. Specifically, they reported symptoms such as difficulty breathing, severe coughing, chest pain, loss of appetite, and irritability. There was also a noted decrease in testosterone levels among men, accompanied by weakness, fatigue, and general apathy.

Impact on the brain

In teenagers and children, the respiratory system and brain are in a stage of active development. The toxic substances found in electronic cigarettes can cause significant harm by slowing the development of brain structures, notes Arifkhanova.

The use of vapes, the expert added, can lead to a decline in intelligence, memory impairment, disruption of fine motor skills, as well as difficulties in concentration and imagination. Additionally, nicotine addiction in adolescents forms more rapidly, increasing the risk of transitioning to other harmful habits.

Are nicotine-free vapes safe for health: truth or self-deception?

– Even without nicotine, vapes pose a health threat. The aerosol contains chemicals and flavorings that can cause lung inflammation, allergic reactions, and damage to the respiratory system's tissues. The liquids may contain heavy metals, such as nickel and lead, which, when accumulated in the body, damage the nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, and excretory systems.

The specialist states that flavoring additives often possess toxicity. Inhaling the aerosol can lead to dryness of the mucous membranes, and the substances used for vaporization can provoke lipoid pneumonia—a rare but potentially fatal lung disease.

Legislation

On January 7, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis adopted in the first reading a draft law proposing a ban on electronic cigarettes in the country.

In particular, the draft law aims to prohibit the circulation (production, manufacturing, storage, transportation or conveyance, importation into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan and exportation from the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan) of electronic nicotine delivery systems, including electronic cigarettes and their liquids.

The document stipulates the establishment of responsibility for offenses related to the illegal introduction into circulation of non-combustible tobacco products and devices for nicotine consumption, including electronic cigarettes.

Experts estimate that electronic cigarettes contain not only nicotine but also 80 different carcinogenic and toxic chemical compounds, as well as heavy metals that significantly harm health. An increase in nicotine dependence in the body can lead to the formation of pathological brain structures, as well as a decrease in intelligence, knowledge, and abilities in children and adolescents.

"Electronic cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular among schoolchildren and young people up to 30 years old. Two out of three consumers are young people, including half of them being girls. If we do not stop this now, in 20 years no law or government program will be able to help the overwhelming majority of intellectually disadvantaged people," stated Alisher Kadirov, the leader of the "Milliy Tiklanish" party.

Statistics

In 2024, a draft law was published proposing amendments and additions to several legislative acts concerning the prohibition and responsibility for the circulation of electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating systems, and certain types of tobacco products.

According to an analysis by the Ministry of Health, among smokers, the use of electronic cigarettes is three times more common among adolescents and young people compared to adults. Among high school students, there is a rapid increase in interest in electronic cigarettes, with 26.6 thousand boys and 8.6 thousand girls inclined to smoke.

Among the population aged 18-29, the level of using tobacco heating systems (252 thousand people) is more than 2.5 times higher than among the population aged 30-69 (94.2 thousand people).

Between 2021 and 2023, Uzbekistan imported 5.4 million electronic cigarettes worth a total of 28.5 million dollars, which is 80 times greater than the import volumes in previous years; in 2018, only 182 thousand electronic cigarettes worth 349 thousand dollars were imported.

International experience

The World Health Organization (WHO) in December 2023 strongly recommended countries to take "urgent measures" to regulate the spread of electronic cigarettes, including banning flavored vapes.

"Children are recruited and lured into traps from an early age to start using electronic cigarettes and become addicted to nicotine. I urge countries to take strict measures to prevent smoking to protect their citizens, especially children and youth," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

To date, the circulation of electronic cigarettes is banned in 37 countries worldwide, including Argentina, Brazil, India, Iran, Iraq, Norway, Singapore, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and North Korea.

According to WHO, children aged 13-15 are the most frequent users of electronic cigarettes. For example, in Canada, the number of teenagers aged 16-19 using electronic cigarettes doubled from 2017 to 2022. In England, the number of vape users among youth has tripled over the past three years.

According to Rüdiger Krech, director of the WHO Health Promotion Department, electronic cigarettes target children through social media and influencers, offering more than 16,000 flavors. Many products feature cartoon designs that attract youth. Meanwhile, the increase in the use of electronic cigarettes among children and youth has surpassed the rates of their use among adults.

Iroda Tulyasheva