E-cigarettes are being used for a different purpose in China, which is reportedly the world’s biggest tobacco producer and consumer.
E-cigarettes have become more of a trend, rather than aids for quitting, and have begun to be widely used among children in China, according to Forbes.
Candy-flavored versions are reportedly being sold to children for 15-20 yuan ($2.5-3), according to a report by the Economist.
“Some campaigners worry that e-cigarettes are gaining popularity in China before awareness of tobacco’s dangers has become widespread,” reads the report.
Researchers at Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health recommended a total ban on e-cigarettes, warning that e-cigarettes targeting children could eventually lead to a “tobacco epidemic,” according to Fox News.
There are reportedly over 8,000 flavors targeting young children, which is especially alarming given that the average at which Chinese people start smoking is under 11. More than half of Chinese men are reportedly smokers.
The debate regarding e-cigarette usage among youth has continued in the U.S. as well. A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reportedly found that e-cigarettes use tripled among middle and high school students.
“Currently there is about 4.6 million students who report using any form of tobacco,” stated Brian King, deputy director for research translation at the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health.
“About 2. 5 million of those are e-cigarette users. No form of tobacco — whether it’s combustible, incombustible or electronic — is safe for youth to use.”
