Recently, a headline in a local news portal had proclaimed the findings of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) which purportedly revealed that there had been a significant reduction in tobacco use among Malaysians while the incidence of vape use had increased.
According to the report, the news was welcomed by the NGO Advanced Centre for Addiction Treatment Advocacy (ACATA) which stressed that this clearly demonstrated an increasing number of Malaysian smokers switching to vape in order to quit smoking tobacco products.
For the record, the report had highlighted that tobacco use among Malaysians decreased from 23% in 2011 to 19% in 2023, while vape use increased from 0.8% to 5.8% over the same period. But then, is that really something to rejoice over?
In fact, ACATA president Dr Arifin Fii was quoted as saying that this was the first time that Malaysia has achieved a significant reduction in smoking prevalence and that the rapid decline in smoking prevalence strongly suggests that more smokers are moving away from tobacco - preferring to opt for a “harm reduction” approach by turning to vape.
But isn't it naive to presume that Malaysian smokers are migrating to vape mainly because smoking is less harmful? Couldn’t it also be because traditional smoking has lost its “glamour” and is being gradually seen as out-dated while vaping has become fashionable, in line with changing trends - especially among the younger generation?
Furthermore, Dr Arifin was quoted as saying that recent proposed measures for nicotine vaping products outlined by the Health Ministry, such as display ban, restricting flavours and standardised packaging guidelines, will only be counterproductive and will deter smokers switching from deadly smoking to the “much less harmful” nicotine vaping; he added that smokers need education and support, not prohibitive measures and restrictive regulations.
Inevitably, this would have prompted many to ask: is vaping really less harmful as is being touted? Or is this merely a diversionary narrative promoted by the big e-cigarettes and vape companies as part of their global marketing outreach - especially to capture the younger market segment which will guarantee them at least a generation of lucrative profits?
However, in reality, many health experts don’t really think vaping is a great way to quit smoking as it still carries its own health risks inter alia lung and immune system damage; in fact, health organisations such as the American Lung Association have actually recommended avoiding vaping and sticking with traditional smoking cessation products.
Like it or not, the truth is vaping products still contain habit-forming nicotine and other harmful chemicals. Moreover, isn't the rise in the use of vaping products amongst the younger generation also a real cause for concern in this country? More significantly, by “normalising” vaping aren't we literally leading our own young ones into the snare set by the vape industry?
Indeed, while some parties appear to give the impression that we are on the right track to reduce the use of tobacco in the country “thanks” to vape, a report based on the findings from the NHMS’ Adolescent Health Survey 2022 seemed to suggest otherwise.
In fact, it had warned of the notable shift in tobacco consumption trends in the teenage population in Malaysia aged below 18, with the Ministry of Health (MOH) describing the emergence of e-cigarettes and vape as a “public health threat”.
It also went on to highlight that about twice as many teenage males in Malaysia vape compared to smoking cigarettes, while vaping is nearly four times more common than smoking cigarettes among teenage females!
More disturbingly, although current tobacco regulations prohibit the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to those aged below 18, there are no regulations on e-cigarette and vape products with nicotine that are now legally accessible to everyone, including minors. Could this be another reason why smokers, especially the younger ones, are now turning to vape in the thousands in this country?
While proponents of the notion that smokers are now pivoting to vape - for health reasons as it is “less harmful” - may celebrate over the findings, perhaps, what many, especially parents of school going children may like to ask them is: “what have you been smoking lately?”
Information Source: Focus Malaysia, CodeBlue and Healthline
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