The growing trend of vaping device advertising and sales is known as Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS). One such device that is advertised commercially online through YouTube users is the ELFBAR.
Nicotine is delivered electronically by all of these devices, including e-hookahs and e-pens. As these devices are positioned as alternatives to tobacco smoking and chewing, many schoolchildren (typically younger than eighteen years) and college students are surrendering to temptation. It is commonly known that nicotine has negative impacts on health and can cause non-communicable diseases like hypertension, stroke, emphysema, and several different types of cancer. One such terrifying malignancy brought on by tobacco is oral cancer, and regrettably, India leads the globe in tobacco-related fatalities and illnesses.
As one of the most addictive drugs, nicotine, tobacco addiction must be treated with a cessation program that includes both behavioral and pharmaceutical therapy.
The tobacco industry is targeting youth and especially children less than eighteen years and Govt. of India has been advocating commendable laws such as ACT 2019-The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement). No 42 of 2019. Ministry Of Law and Justice GOI. Dated December 5, 2019. Clause (4) of the act clearly bans import and section (5) clearly bans storage of these products. The best preventive measures are not to allow these activities by implementing the provisions of the law.
No Tobacco Association, Nagpur has been doing public awareness campaigns to prevent diseases such as oral pre-cancer cancer and other non-communicable diseases caused by tobacco for the last three decades. In the year 2016, ten unique rural health camps with the theme “the Cancer Free Constituency” were conducted where 5170 patients were examined and 813 patients were treated including many oral, breast, and cervical cancer patients. No Tobacco Association will always be ready to coordinate with authorities to make a “Tobacco Free World.”
This is a matter of grave concern that many citizens including children are getting addicted to these electronic nicotine delivery systems such as ELFBAR etc. Unfortunately, these products are available on the point of selling tobacco products such as pan thelas (kiosks) and shops. It is possible that these products are also stored in large quantities in the city.
Urgent attention is requested to save the citizens and children from this nuisance of tobacco and put the end to ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems).
