Belarus reports sharp decline in smoking, youth e-cigarette use reaches 15%

Oct.28.2024
Belarus reports sharp decline in smoking, youth e-cigarette use reaches 15%
Traditional smoking rates among Belarusian adolescents have declined significantly over the past 20 years, but e-cigarette use has increased, with about 15% of middle school students vaping - with girls showing a higher frequency of use.

The number of teenagers smoking traditional cigarettes in Belarus has decreased fivefold in the last 20 years, according to a report by BOBR.BY on 24 October. However, e-cigarettes have emerged as a new trend. A survey by the Belarusian Ministry of Health of around 3,500 middle school students found that 15% of teenagers now use e-cigarettes.

 

The survey found that e-cigarette use increases with age, with one in five ninth graders using e-cigarettes. Notably, female students are more likely to vape than males. In addition, many male students remain unaware of the potential risks associated with e-cigarettes.

 

The findings also show that around 80% of students think e-cigarettes are safe, with many saying they have no intention of quitting the habit.

 

Despite a 2022 ban on the sale of e-cigarettes and related products to minors in Belarus, half of the teenagers said they could easily buy them in shops.

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