Over the past six months, sales and advertisement of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTP) in Cambodia have tripled, despite efforts by authorities to curb their usage.
The latest data was released on June 12 during a Cambodia e-cigarette conference held at the Phnom Penh city hall.
Dr. Mom Kong, executive director of Cambodia Movement for Health, stated during the meeting that promotion of e-cigarettes continues to grow on social media platforms such as Facebook, Tik Tok and Telegram. Promoters are using attractive pictures and videos to appeal to the targeted demographic of youths and students.
Dr. Kong further stated that in research conducted on the use and distribution of e-cigarettes in schools, it was found that a majority of young people purchase or use them through social media platforms.
"I believe that advertising and promoting e-cigarettes on social media platforms like Facebook, Tik Tok, and Telegram has had a devastating impact on young people, and is damaging their future," he said.
Dr. Kong suggests that authorities should use additional legal mechanisms to punish e-cigarette vendors and intervene in prohibiting the import of these products into Cambodia in order to prevent young people from using them. He argues that if e-cigarettes are not imported, people will not be able to use them.
Im Ron Hassan, Deputy Mayor of Phnom Penh, announced that the authorities have been actively cracking down on the use, sale, and distribution of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products over the past few months.
"However, recently we have observed a concerning trend of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products being sold and distributed on social media platforms such as Facebook, Telegram, and Tik Tok," he announced.
He demanded that the 104 district chiefs of Phnom Penh and other authorities to enforce the ban on the sale, distribution, and usage of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Major General Lim Tong Huot, head of the legislative, educational, and rehab department of the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD), stated yesterday that he observed numerous students and individuals secretly using e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in Phnom Penh.
He added that in order to stop the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes, the police chiefs of the districts and communities in Phnom Penh must work with other authorities to identify those responsible for selling e-cigarettes and make them face legal action.
Major General Tong Huot also stated that most sellers of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products operate near schools, but the district and community police chiefs have not taken any action.
Reference:
The use of electronic cigarettes is on the rise.
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