Disposable e-cigarette puff bars and marketing through addictive social media platforms have led to a dramatic increase in the number of children vaping in Switzerland. An RTS report outlines these concerns, showing how ineffective the legal ban has so far been and how helpless authorities feel in the face of the phenomenon.

The health risks of e-cigarettes, which affect young brain development, are gradually becoming known. Nicotine is associated with cardiovascular disease. This chemical causes blood vessels to constrict. This restricts blood flow and can cause the heart to work harder. Over time, this can cause blood vessels to become stiff and less elastic, and increase the likelihood of a heart attack.

In addition, there are many unknowns about e-cigarettes. Emerging data suggest it may be linked to chronic lung disease and asthma.

"You're exposing yourself to a variety of chemicals that we don't yet know about and may not be safe," said Michael Braha, a physician and director of clinical research at the Johns Hopkins West Carone Heart Prevention Center.

There are also concerns about the possibility of oral and other types of cancer. These products are new, so their long-term health effects are unknown.

Understanding the effects of chemicals other than nicotine in these products is no easy task.

In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) attributed 2,807 lung injuries and 68 deaths to vaping. The CDC identified vitamin E acetate as a harmful chemical in e-cigarettes used by these patients. Since then, the CDC recommends against using THC-containing e-cigarettes or vaping products and avoiding informal channels (such as friends, family, or online dealers) to obtain vaping devices.

E-cigarettes have also proven disappointing in keeping people away from conventional tobacco products. Unfortunately, they are also addictive. A recent study found that most people who intend to use e-cigarettes to quit their nicotine habit end up using both traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Addiction appears to be stronger and more rapid in young adults because their brains are building and strengthening new neural networks.

The rise in e-cigarette use among Swiss youth has not gone unnoticed. Authorities in all French-speaking Swiss cantons, with the exception of Vaud and Jura (one of which is pending), have made it illegal to sell the devices to people under 18 due to concerns about the negative health effects. In German-speaking Switzerland, only Bern, the city of Basel and the canton of Basel have imposed a ban.

Inexpensive disposable e-cigarettes, often with a fruity flavor, are a key driver of the explosion in e-cigarette sales. An industry forecast estimates that sales in Switzerland will grow by 2,200% in 2022.

There are no national laws restricting the sale or marketing of these products in Switzerland. At the national level, e-cigarettes must only comply with food laws. A new national law to prevent minors from buying these products is in the works, but it's not expected to go into effect until 2024. Until then, the job will be left to state governments.

In addition to the law, there are enforcement issues. Early evidence from French-speaking Switzerland suggests that sales bans there are not working. In one experiment, 41 percent of undercover teens in the region were illegally sold e-cigarettes, RTS reported. Schools are also working to keep these devices off campus. They're small and look a lot like highlighters, so they're easy to hide.

Another challenge is limiting marketing. Social media is where the most effective marketing takes place and is difficult to monitor and regulate. These devices can also be easily purchased online. Some elementary school students in Switzerland have been buying extra equipment online and selling it at schools.

Some devices in Switzerland were found to have high levels of nicotine. The standard level is 2%. However, according to the RTS report, dispensed-dose devices containing 5% nicotine were found on the Swiss market.

Switzerland has some of the weakest tobacco control laws, said Luciano Ruggia, managing director of the Swiss Association for Tobacco Control. To reduce the health damage from teen vaping, he recommends better laws and information. Parents and teachers need to be aware and understand this phenomenon.

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