MANILA — A health practitioner who has been campaigning against the ill effects of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) on Wednesday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to prohibit “the use and importation” of vaping devices or e-cigarettes in the country.
In an interview, Philippine Pediatric Society-Tobacco Control Advocacy Group chairperson Rizalina Raquel Gonzalez thinks President Rodrigo Duterte is “alarmed over the electronic cigarette or vape-associated lung injury (EVALI) case and the increasing prevalence of use of e-cigs by minors”.
“Being a smoker and feeling all the bad effects on him, knowing the path of e-cigs as a gateway to smoking, he wants to be pro-health ASAP (as soon as possible),” Gonzales said.
Gateway to smoking tobacco
The Department of Health (DOH) has noted there are a million Filipino e-cigarette users, with the product easily gaining popularity as it was marketed as a safer alternative to smoking tobacco.
However, using these so-called replacements, Gonzales said, may actually lead to wanting to smoke tobacco in the future.
“E-cigarette use for non-smoking minors is four times at risk to try and engage in tobacco cigarette use. It is a proven gateway to smoking tobacco or they become dual users,” Gonzales said.