Urgent action needed: addressing the regulatory gap in e-cigarette trade and usage

Abstract

Tobacco use is associated with serious health problems. Global efforts, such as the World Health Organization’s Framework for Tobacco Control, have reduced tobacco use, but challenges remain. Initially perceived as aids for smoking cessation, e-cigarettes have gained popularity among young people and non-smokers. Government approaches to regulating e-cigarettes range from treating them like tobacco, requiring a prescription for their use to outright bans. Although touted as a valuable alternative, evidence suggests that increased e-cigarette use carries potential direct and indirect health risks, necessitating urgent regulatory measures on a global scale. Lack of defined and uniform regulations poses substantial public health risks, compounded by marketing targeting vulnerable groups. Immediate interventions, public awareness, and research are essential to effectively control the current e-cigarette epidemic.