DOH RAISES CONCERNS OVER INCREASING NUMBER OF VAPE USERS

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) has raised concerns about the growing number of vape and e-cigarette users, particularly among the youth.

“We have observed a rise in vape users. What alarms us is that it includes young people,” DOH Spokesperson Albert Domingo said in an interview with PTV.

Domingo emphasized that vape stores should not be located near schools, suggesting they should be more than 100 meters away from educational institutions.

In January, Secretary Teodoro Herbosa urged law enforcement agencies to strengthen measures to prevent minors from easily purchasing electronic cigarettes or vapes, noting an alarming increase in use among teenagers.

Herbosa highlighted that e-cigarette use among youth has now reached 14 percent.

According to the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 11 percent of students nationwide use tobacco, 10 percent smoke cigarettes, and 14 percent use e-cigarettes.

(el Amigo/MNM)