A chara, – Following “Vapes may soon be taxed more heavily to discourage use among young people” (News, October 2nd), we further read “More than one in three young teenagers currently vape, research finds” (News, October 27th).
The growth in youth usage of vapes, more correctly referred to as e-cigarettes, is of significant concern to health professionals involved in managing acute and chronic lung conditions.
We are witnessing a generational change in nicotine addiction that mirrors the youth adoption of tobacco products decades ago.
Preventable respiratory diseases remain a significant cause of death in Ireland that are closely related to current and historic smoking rates.
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The longitudinal health effects of e-cigarette use are not yet understood, e-cigarette use is linked to an increased burden of respiratory symptoms, and there is published Irish research showing a gateway effect to tobacco smoking in young Irish people.
We welcome the budget day announcement that a tax on e-cigarettes will be introduced next year.
However, there is urgent need for the Government to implement additional necessary policy change to restrict the availability, advertisement and cynical proliferation of flavours and colours of e-cigarette devices.
This is vital if we are to prevent the creation of new generations of smokers and stop the reversal of the hard-won health gains of recent decades. – Yours, etc,
PROF LUKE CLANCY and ASSOC PROF STANLEY DW MILLER,
Irish Thoracic Society Tobacco Control Advisory Group.