Majority of students in 14-17 age group not aware vaping, e-cigarettes banned: Survey

livemint.com:

Ninety-six per cent of students in the age group of 14-17 years who took part in a survey do not know that vapes and similar electronic devices are banned in India, while 89 per cent of them are unaware of their harmful effects, according to a study. The survey findings come amid the Union Health Ministry sending notices to 15 websites selling e-cigarettes, which are banned in India, directing them to stop advertisement and sale of the products.

The study titled "Ideas for an Addiction-Free India" was conducted by the Think Change Forum (TCF), an independent think tank which recently conducted the survey in covering 1,007 students in public schools in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru. The survey highlights a shocking gap in awareness among our most vulnerable members, our children, regarding the ill effects of addictive products like vaping that are driven by new technology.

It must be noted that a new class of high-tech vaping gadgets and similar electronic devices are being aggressively marketed by the addictive substances industry by positioning them as less harmful than conventional smoking products to attract adolescents and youth to expand their markets. These devices are acting as a gateway for our unsuspecting children to be inducted into the world of addiction.

It is alarming that an overwhelming majority of 96% of the children surveyed were not aware that vaping and similar electronic devices are banned in India. Among those who were not aware of the harmful effects of vaping, 52% perceived vaping as "completely harmless" and viewed it as a cool and fashionable activity.

Another 37% considered it "moderately harmful" but lacked understanding about the nature of the harm. Only 11% of the