Experts are calling for stricter e-cigarette laws in Australia as the country experiences a surge in the number of young people developing a harmful habit. They warn that the country is facing a "frog in boiling water" situation.
Researchers have found that in the state of Victoria, young adults aged 18 to 30 make up half of the state's smokers, with the number of e-cigarette users reaching a record high.
According to a smoking and health survey in Victoria, the number of young women aged 18 to 24 who use electronic cigarettes has skyrocketed from 2.8% in 2018 to 19% to 15.2% in 2022.
Dr. Sandro Demaio, CEO of VicHealth, has called for strengthening national borders to "protect young people." He stated, "What we have seen in recent years is a flood of cheap imported and highly addictive products entering the market, with young people getting caught up in them. These products contain over 200 chemicals, many of which are currently illegal." He added that most of these products contain nicotine, but it is simply not labeled as such.
DeMaio calls on Australian government to crackdown on electronic cigarette smuggling.
We have seen a huge increase. In four years, adult usage in Victoria has doubled, and usage among young women has increased five-fold," says Demaio. Manufacturers are flooding the market with colorful and flavorful e-cigarettes that are attractive to younger consumers. "They use colors and flavors to attract young people, such as fruit loops and milk," he adds. "They come in shapes like highlighters and hoodie buttons, so you can sneak them into school and make it difficult for parents and teachers to find them.
Demaio has stated that the federal government needs to intervene urgently and tighten borders to prevent an increase in the number of people using e-cigarettes. Additionally, he suggests that Victoria needs to implement a licensing scheme to identify those selling e-cigarettes and combat the growing black market. Current laws dictate that Australians require a prescription to obtain e-cigarettes containing nicotine. Importing and selling nicotine e-cigarettes in Australia are also illegal.
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