Page 10 - TAIWAN TOBACCO CONTROL ANNUAL REPORT 2019

E-Cigarettes Can Be Addictive and Dangerous Due to Potential Explosion Hazard According to the WHO, smoking and second-hand smoke are the primary causes of cardiovascular diseases. Approximately 12% of cardiovascular diseases can be attributed to smoking and second-hand smoke. The American Heart Association® has published in an international stroke seminar in 2017 that compared to smoking tobacco, smoking e-cigarettes frequently will cause a decline in glucose level in the brain, thereby damaging the coagulation factors that will more likely lead to strokes and hemorrhaging. In light of the fact that children and youths are less vigilant against addictive substances, it is alarming that the results of tests conducted by the Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare on 1,102 e-cigarettes in 2018 reveal that 80.8% contain the addictive substance nicotine. Scented cigarette smoke infused with flavors such as mint, chocolate and rose mask the pungent odor of ordinary tobacco, therefore youths often try these products out of curiosity and continue to consume them based on the erroneous belief that scented cigarettes are less harmful. This leads to worsening addictions, adverse impact on pulmonary health and potentially lethal consequences. On the other hand, e-cigarettes not only contain addictive nicotine but also carcinogens such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde and other harmful substances. They also pose a risk of exploding and may endanger the health of users. The results of the teen smoking behavior survey conducted by the Health Promotion Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2018 reveal that the e-cigarette consumption rate among junior and senior high school students was 1.9% and 3.4%, respectively. This clearly indicates that the growing popularity of e-cigarettes has threatened the health of children and youths. Consequently, e-cigarettes prevention efforts should be stepped up, while scented cigarettes and tobacco advertising should be banned in order to protect our children and youths and give them a smoke-free environment. Enforcing Tobacco Hazards Prevention to Achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals The UN has listed the implementation of the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act through the adoption of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control as a sub-goal (Item 3.a) of its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The strengthening of tobacco hazards prevention is, therefore, a pressing task worldwide. The draft amendment to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act proposed by the Health Promotion Administration aims to fortify various tobacco hazard prevention strategies, respond to hazards presented by innovative products, protect the citizens' health and help to achieve multiple goals associated with global sustainable development. At the same time, in supporting the WHO's chronic disease prevention goals – reducing smoking rate by 30% in 2025 compared to 2010 - the Health Promotion Administration has stipulated the goal of reducing the smoking rate of adults over 18 years of age by 30% by 2025, with the goal of decreasing the number of smokers in Taiwan and minimizing the impact of tobacco hazards on the citizens' health. 8