The Rise of E-cigarette Usage in Malaysia: A Study

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
May.16.2024
The Rise of E-cigarette Usage in Malaysia: A Study
Malaysia sees a 600% increase in e-cigarette users over 12 years, according to Global Adult Tobacco Survey data.

According to a report by Malaysian media outlet TheStar on May 16, data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey released in 2023 shows that the number of e-cigarette users in Malaysia has increased by 600% over the past 12 years. The survey also found that the percentage of e-cigarette users in the age group of 15 to 24 years old has increased from 1.1% in 2011 to 8.6% in 2023.

 

In Malaysia, the use of e-cigarettes has sharply increased. According to a study, the usage rate of e-cigarettes in 2023 was 5.8%, compared to just 0.8% in 2011, representing a growth of over 600%.

 

A survey has revealed that overall, 68.1% of adults have heard of e-cigarettes, with 8.9% (10.5% males, 0.8% females) having tried them, and 5.8% currently using them.

 

The data comes from the main results of the "2023 Global Adult Tobacco Survey" and the "2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey of Malaysia," both of which were just released on May 16th. The results show that the cessation and health behaviors among adults who have tried to quit smoking in the past 12 months, as well as those who are currently smoking, have remained consistent. However, the study also found that the number of people exposed to tobacco in the home, workplace, and public transportation has significantly decreased from 2011 to 2023.

 

A report shows that there are 4.8 million adult smokers in Malaysia, with 3.7 million (14.6%) of adults smoking every day. Although the proportion of daily adult smokers has significantly decreased from 2011 to 2023, the survey emphasizes that more efforts must be put into addressing other challenges related to tobacco use, especially in areas such as secondhand smoke exposure, tobacco prices, and the growth of e-cigarette usage.

 

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