Officials Say Nicotine Addiction Drives Vape Industry Profits

“What happened is that the industry has taken the way of advertising these products as very sexy, very attractive and so forth,” said Esner Vellos, director of the National Drug Abuse Control Council (NDACC).

The Ministry of Health and Wellness in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) hosted the National Tobacco Youth Forum  today ahead of World No Tobacco Day on Sunday

The forum focused on educating young people about the dangers of tobacco use, particularly newer products such as vapes and e-cigarettes, while also giving youths an opportunity to voice their concerns and experiences.

“What is alarming is that more and more younger women are being affected by tobacco consumption,” Vellos said.

According to the Ministry of Health, many young people continue to believe vaping is safer than traditional smoking because of aggressive marketing and social media trends that present the products as attractive or fashionable.

But officials say that perception is false.

“To the contrary, it is very dangerous,” Vellos said. “They still contain the thousands of chemicals that may cause cancers in our body.”

Dr Karen Lewis-Bell, the PAHO/WHO representative in Belize, said tobacco companies are increasingly targeting younger populations with flavoured and trendy products designed to appear modern and harmless.

“The most addictive substance in cigarettes is the nicotine. And so the vapes now focus on the addictive substance because the industry really wants to get you hooked and get your money over and over and over again,” she said.

Lewis-Bell said the long-term health effects can include heart disease, strokes, lung disease, asthma, and various forms of cancer.

The youth forum is expected to be the first in a series of awareness events planned across the country.