ASUNCIÓN, PARAGUAY – On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day every May 31, the Paraguayan Ministry of Public Health released alarming statistics related to smoking, expressing particular concern about the surge in electronic cigarette (vaping) use among adolescents. This announcement serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of tobacco and a warning against the tobacco industry's cunning strategies to entice younger generations.

According to data from the Paraguayan Ministry of Public Health, 12.5% of adolescents in Paraguay currently use e-cigarettes, a figure significantly higher than the 3% who smoke traditional cigarettes. What's particularly striking is that the e-cigarette usage rate among adolescents is similar to, or even higher than, the adult cigarette smoking rate. This suggests that e-cigarettes are perceived by young people as a "less harmful" or "stylish" alternative, posing a serious public health issue.

Paraguay's Alarming Tobacco-Related Mortality Rate

Tobacco claims approximately 12 lives daily in Paraguay, amounting to 4,515 deaths annually. This represents 13.7% of all deaths in Paraguay. The impact of tobacco on the overall mortality rate in the region is devastating, accounting for 15% of cardiovascular disease deaths, 24% of cancer deaths, and 45% of chronic respiratory disease deaths. The fact that smokers' life expectancy is at least 10 years shorter than non-smokers clearly illustrates the fatal impact of tobacco on individuals' lives.

The Reality of Youth Smoking and the Tobacco Industry's Cunning Strategies

The 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) in Paraguay revealed that 8.1% of students aged 13 to 15 currently use tobacco products, with 8.8% of boys and 7.2% of girls. The prevalence of cigarette smoking was 3.0% among all students (2.7% for boys, 3.3% for girls). Additionally, the use of smokeless tobacco was 1.7%.

The tobacco industry employs sophisticated marketing strategies to attract young people as new consumers, packaging its products as "modern, harmless, and even helpful for quitting smoking." E-cigarettes with various flavors and attractive designs are central to this strategy. However, health authorities warn that these tactics are dangerous attempts to conceal the high addictiveness and fatal health hazards of tobacco and its derivatives. E-cigarettes also contain nicotine, making them highly addictive, and can cause various health problems, including lung damage and cardiovascular disease. Research has also reported that they can negatively affect brain development in adolescents.

The Need for Smoking Cessation Efforts and Public Health Reinforcement

On a positive note, 6 out of 10 current smokers (58.4%) attempted to quit in the past 12 months. This indicates a high motivation to quit but also emphasizes the importance of effective cessation support programs. Furthermore, the fact that 21.2% of students are exposed to secondhand smoke at home highlights the need to strengthen indoor smoking bans.

International Efforts and Future Challenges

The World Health Organization (WHO) is striving to raise awareness, push for stronger policies, including bans on flavors that enhance the appeal of tobacco and nicotine products, and protect public health to combat the global tobacco problem, which causes approximately 8 million deaths worldwide annually. Of these, over 7 million deaths are due to direct tobacco use, and over 1 million are due to secondhand smoke.

Paraguay, too, must join these international efforts and it is time to establish and implement strong anti-smoking policies to protect the younger generation from the dangers of tobacco and improve overall public health. Clear regulations on e-cigarettes, enhanced anti-smoking education for adolescents, and active support programs for smokers wishing to quit are urgently needed. Continued attention and investment are crucial for a healthy, tobacco-free future.

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