Rising Trend of Teenagers Using E-cigarettes in Vietnam

According to recent reports by Vietnamese media, local government officials have observed a concerning trend of young teenagers wearing school uniforms while openly smoking e-cigarettes. The scene is often marked by a cloud of smoke surrounding them.

Suspect Nguyen Chunsheng (Lê Anh Thơ) purchased e-cigarettes and added drugs to them before selling them in the market. According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, the proportion of students and young people using e-cigarettes in Vietnam is increasing. However, both e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes contain nicotine. E-cigarettes consist of low-temperature e-liquid, with approximately 16,000 flavorings available to choose from. Various components in these flavorings can have health implications and may potentially be mixed with other substances such as drugs and marijuana.

Due to the harm caused by e-cigarettes, the Ministry of Health has recommended banning this type of product in order to gradually reduce the supply and demand for tobacco. The ban on e-cigarettes is also aimed at protecting the health of the community, especially that of young people. As a result, the Drug Crime Investigation Bureau (C04, Ministry of Public Security) has successfully cracked a case involving an individual who was mixing drugs into e-cigarette vaporizer pens and advertising and selling them openly on social media, targeting students and college students directly.

In this case, C04 has filed charges and arrested Nguyen Chunsheng (28 years old, residing in Hoang Mai District, Hanoi) and five others to investigate their involvement in the illegal drug trade. Nguyen Chunsheng has been identified as the mastermind behind the operation. He learned the production methods online, purchased chemicals, aromatic chewing gum, synthetic marijuana, and e-cigarette devices from other countries, and brought them back to Hanoi. He hired individuals to manufacture the drugs, injecting the drug-containing aromatic chewing gum into e-cigarettes and tobacco, and then designed his own trademarks and packaging.

Deputy Director C04 has stated that the reason e-cigarettes and similar items attract teenagers is due to their bright colors and appealing flavors. Specifically, they target children between the ages of 12 and 13, in the 2nd and 3rd grade. Children of this age range are naturally curious, eager to explore, and have a desire to showcase their individuality. Major General Ruan Mingguang added, "The Criminal Forensic Institute has conducted a review and found five types of drugs, mostly marijuana e-liquid, ketamine, and methamphetamine.

Brigadier General Ruan Mingguang has stated that individuals who use these drugs will experience neurological excitation, hallucinations, and may even die from poisoning. In line with their assigned duties and tasks, Bureau C04 continues to crackdown on various disguised drug production lines, including e-cigarettes. Additionally, they have joined forces with the Ministry of Education to organize awareness campaigns in schools.