40,000 Youths Nationwide Use E-cigarettes; Health Administration to Amend Law for Confiscation

(CNA reporter Chen Jie-ling, Taipei, June 23) E-cigarettes laced with etonitazene have led to frequent drug-driving incidents. E-cigarettes not only harm adults but are also eroding children. Latest data shows that the e-cigarette usage rate among adolescents is 3.7%, potentially reaching 40,000 users nationwide. The Health Administration is planning to amend the law to strengthen confiscation measures.

Recent drug-driving incidents are occurring one after another, with one of the culprits being the "zombie vape" etonitazene, which uses e-cigarettes as a delivery vehicle. This has brought the once-banned e-cigarettes back into heated discussion. Wei Hsi-lun, Deputy Director-General of the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated at a press conference today that the most frightening aspect of e-cigarettes is that users often believe they only contain nicotine, but in reality, it's impossible to determine what ingredients are mixed into the e-liquid.

Wei Hsi-lun said that e-cigarettes may contain other harmful chemicals, and even illicit drugs. The current "Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act" has insufficient regulations for e-cigarette holders. In the past, law enforcement officers found it difficult to confiscate e-cigarettes from holders under the existing law. Related regulations are currently under review for amendment, and future amendments will move towards stricter measures, with holders of e-cigarettes potentially facing more severe legal responsibilities.

Wei Hsi-lun urged the public currently using e-cigarettes to join smoking cessation programs as soon as possible, make good use of free cessation resources, and stay away from the harms of e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are not harmless fruit candies, but chemical toxic gases wrapped in a sugary coating. Long-term use of e-cigarettes can not only affect appearance but also lead to emotional instability and damage the function of organs such as the heart, lungs, and liver. In severe cases, even daily walking can cause shortness of breath.

E-cigarettes not only harm adults but are also eroding children. According to statistics from the Health Promotion Administration, the current situation of e-cigarette use among adolescents shows that usage rates among junior and senior high school students are increasing, with senior high school showing a faster increase. The e-cigarette usage rate among junior high school students is 2.1%, and among senior high school students is 5.1%. Combined, the e-cigarette usage rate among adolescents is 3.7%, estimating that over 40,000 adolescents nationwide use e-cigarettes.

Luo Su-ying, head of the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Division of the Health Promotion Administration, pointed out that, like traditional cigarettes, inhaling the chemical substances in the aerosol of e-cigarettes can trigger inflammatory responses in the lungs. Some users mistakenly believe that mild symptoms such as slight coughing or respiratory discomfort are just a cold, but in reality, the condition can rapidly worsen, leading to acute airway injury, lung parenchymal pneumonia, alveolar edema, hypoxemic respiratory failure, and even death.

In addition to severe illnesses caused by the combined effects of lung damage and the body's immune response, clinically known as acute respiratory distress syndrome. Luo Su-ying further stated that research shows that smoking during adolescence is associated with impaired working memory and attention functions, as well as reduced activation of the prefrontal cortex.

Luo Su-ying said that multiple studies have also found that adolescent e-cigarette use is associated with an increased risk of future mental health and behavioral problems, including major depressive disorder, agoraphobia, panic disorder, other substance addictions, antisocial personality disorder, and poor academic performance. With the summer vacation approaching, she called on adolescents nationwide to say no to e-cigarettes. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150623

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