It has no smell, it is not noticeable but it is addictive! Families skip this detail

Emphasizing that e-cigarettes are much more dangerous than thought, Chest Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. Banu Musaffa Salepçi pointed out that more than 8 million people worldwide lose their lives every year due to tobacco-related diseases.

Prof. Dr. Salepçi said that approximately 7 million of these losses were active smokers and 1.3 million were passive smokers.

'THE RATE OF USING ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES AMONG YOUTH HAS REACHED 20 PERCENT'

Stating that the rate of e-cigarette use among young people has reached 20 percent worldwide, and that this rate varies between 16 and 20 percent among high school and university students in Türkiye, Prof. Dr. Salepçi said, “Many young people who have never smoked before are starting to use e-cigarettes simply because they think they will look charismatic. These products attract the attention of young people by being offered with attractive aromas and colorful designs.”

'NICOTINE ADDICTION IS DEVELOPING, FAMILIES DO NOT NOTICE'

Stating that the disposable puff bars used by young people contain up to 300 puffs of liquid and a significant amount of nicotine, Prof. Dr. Salepçi said, “Young people can buy and use these products together. Since it is not known how much nicotine is taken, it carries a serious risk of addiction. Moreover, families often do not realize that their children are using electronic cigarettes.”

'RISK OF LUNG DAMAGE IS VERY HIGH'

Emphasizing that the perception that electronic cigarettes are less harmful does not reflect the truth, Prof. Dr. Salepçi said, “Since these devices heat up to 300 degrees, the metals and additives in them become carcinogenic. They cause serious damage, especially to lung tissue. It increases the risk of lung cancer and can also lead to irreversible respiratory failure.”

'IT CAN LEAD TO LIFE-THREATENING CONSEQUENCES'

In 2019, approximately 2,500 people in the United States were admitted to hospital with sudden respiratory distress, and 67 people died.

Prof. Dr. Salepçi stated that most of these cases were detected to have used e-cigarettes and suffered acute lung damage, and said, “Many flavors are added to e-cigarettes, vitamin E is one of them. It causes such damage that it takes the patient to intensive care irreversibly and even costs their life. A 16-year-old young person in the USA had to have a lung transplant. In our country, there are young people who are admitted to chest diseases polyclinics for the same reason.”

'TRANSPORTATION IS EASY DESPITE THE LAW'

Prof. Dr. Salepçi, who drew attention to the fact that despite the legal regulations in Türkiye banning the use of electronic cigarettes in closed areas and preventing their import, it is still very easy to access these products, said, “We are faced with a substance that is spreading rapidly despite the bans. Today, we know that it causes serious damage to the lungs, but we are sure that it will have carcinogenic effects like cigarettes in the long term.”

CALL TO FAMILIES: 'DO NOT THINK IT IS A USB, IT MIGHT BE AN E-CIGARETTE'

Chest Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. Banu Musaffa Salepçi, “In some countries, e-cigarettes are prescribed as a method to quit smoking. However, the World Health Organization states that these products should be urgently inspected and their sale to those under the age of 18 should be banned due to their effects on young people. They especially exacerbate symptoms in children with respiratory diseases such as asthma. Families may not notice e-cigarettes because they look like USBs or toys. The fact that they have no smell also increases this risk. Families and teachers in schools need to be very careful about this issue,” she concluded.