Coalition for Tobacco Control wants clampdown on vaping among students

  

Vice-chair of Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control Dr. Terry Baker is calling for government agencies and non-governmental organisations to join forces to clampdown on the pervasive use of vapes or e-cigarettes among students.

 

Speaking Tuesday on TVJ's Smile Jamaica, Dr. Baker said there is an explosion of the use of vapes among students in primary and secondary schools because they are too accessible. 

 

"They are located near the cashier. They are at eye level. They come in so many different colours. They look attractive. And then you do have the flavours. You have cherry, blueberry, lemonade. You have bubblegum, cotton candy. So these are flavours that attract children. And then you also have those that have alcohol, some very popular high name brands. They are flavoured," she pointed out. 

 

"I have personally stood in an establishment and seen two teenagers in front of me and they are ordering the various brands, and when I got up to the cashier, I said, 'How old are those kids?'" she recounted.

 

Dr. Baker stressed that e-cigarettes are not safe, as they contain nicotine and are generally seen as a gateway for other drug use. 

 

"Many persons think it's not a cigarette so it doesn't have nicotine, and nicotine is highly addictive - more addictive many persons believe than cocaine and heroin. So afterwards you have this seeking behaviour. So I have known of teenagers where parents have tried to stop them and yet when they go back to their rooms they are finding more and more of these devices," she said, warning that children are unaware of the dangers.