A recent study conducted by The George Institute for Global Health highlights that despite a ban on e-cigarettes in India, they remain a significant public health challenge. The ban was implemented in 2019 to protect young people from vaping-related harm. However, exposure to vaping within family and peer groups was found to be a significant contributor to increased use of e-cigarettes, with those with higher levels of education being among the most likely to vape.
India has the largest tobacco market globally, with around 27% of its population using tobacco in some form. The government’s decision to ban e-cigarettes was aimed at protecting the youth, the section that is most vulnerable to the health hazards of e-cigarettes.
The study surveyed 840 tertiary-educated young adults based on demographic characteristics, e-cigarette and tobacco use, beliefs about e-cigarettes, exposure to e-cigarette advertising, sources of access to e-cigarettes, and numbers of family members and peers who vape. The findings reveal a low prevalence of daily vaping among educated young adults, with tobacco use strongly associated with e-cigarette use in this group.
Analysis revealed that 23% of respondents reported using e-cigarettes, 70% reported using tobacco, and 8% were dual users of both e-cigarettes and tobacco. Just under two-thirds of those who were aware of e-cigarettes believed them to be harmful and to contain chemicals. Among non-users, 31% were curious about using e-cigarettes, and 23% intended to use them in the following year, indicating high levels of susceptibility.
The study suggests that exposure to vaping within family and peer groups is a conduit through which vaping rates will increase over time. It further recommends that greater education about the harms associated with vaping and more intensive monitoring and enforcement could assist in reducing uptake, particularly in high-prevalence groups such as educated young adults.
Despite being one of the only countries to ban the sale of e-cigarettes completely, young people can still access them in India. “The most commonly reported reason for using e-cigarettes was ‘A friend used them’”, said Dr Thout Raj, a research fellow at The George Institute for Global Health, India, in a statement. The study shows that intense monitoring and enforcement of existing regulations would assist in preventing greater uptake in the future.
E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that vaporize a solution containing nicotine or other chemicals. They are marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, but their safety and effectiveness as a smoking cessation tool have not been established. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that governments regulate e-cigarettes and prohibit their use indoors to protect bystanders from aerosol and other emissions.
In conclusion, the study’s findings indicate that e-cigarettes remain a significant public health challenge in India, with higher education levels associated with increased e-cigarette use. The ban on e-cigarettes in India was a measure to protect young people from vaping-related harm, but exposure to vaping within family and peer groups contributes to its increased use. Greater education about the harms associated with vaping and more intensive monitoring and enforcement could reduce uptake, particularly among high-prevalence groups like educated young adults.