DOH: Vaping not safer than smoking cigarettes
The Department of Health (DOH) has warned the public against “marketing strategies” that falsely claim that vapes are safer than cigarettes, as it stressed that both products are equally dangerous to one’s health.
In a social media post on Sunday, the DOH said it is intensifying initiatives to protect Filipinos against cigarettes and vapes, adding that it “continues to combat information from businessmen that vapes are safer than cigarettes.”
“Vapes being safer than cigarettes is fake news. Based on studies, vape is one of the causes of some of the deadly illnesses affecting the lungs, such as the e-cigarette and vaping product-use associated lung injury,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said.
Speaking in a video posted on social media, Herbosa added that vaping also weakens the heart, while the chemicals it contains can cause cancer.
Secondhand smoke
“It also poisons the lungs and heart of people who inhale secondhand smoke, or individuals who are affected by the smoke even if they do not vape,” he said. “We think it smells good? The smoke from vape is poison. That’s why we need to stop this vice.”
The health secretary also called on the public to protect the youth from engaging in vaping.
The World Health Organization (WHO) earlier called for the protection of children against the harmful effects of e-cigarettes, noting that such products have been “aggressively marketed to young people” through the use of social media and influencers.
Some e-cigarettes also use designs that feature cartoon characters and come in thousands of different flavors to make them more appealing to the youth.
The WHO said that globally, children between the ages of 13 and 15 are using e-cigarettes at higher rates than adults.
