NCDA blames deceptive marketing for increased vaping among Jamaicans

By Kimone Witter  

 

 

Executive Director of the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), Paulette Spencer Smith, is blaming deceptive marketing by the tobacco industry for increased vaping practices by the nation's youth and adults.

 

Mrs. Spencer Smith says for young people, the industry targets them through colourful and flavourful e-cigarettes.

 

She adds that the problem of vaping is compounded by the fact that it is not restricted, making it easily accessible.

 

Addressing students of Christiana High School at a World No Tobacco Day Children's Expo and Health Fair, in Manchester, on Thursday, the NCDA head sought to dismiss claims that vaping is harmless. 

 

"The tobacco industry is not your friend. It has never been your friend, and in the era now of vaping and the next generation nicotine products, it is working harder than ever to reach you. This is the evidence. If you are aware of a flavoured e-cigarette, can you give me one flavour of an e-cigarette? Come on, cherry, mango, bubble gum, watermelon and mint. Those are the flavours for e-cigarettes and they are not developed for 50-year-old people. They are developed and supported by social media influencers and concerts, sponsorship, the right packaging and the language of it being cool and free. These are deliberate marketing decisions made by billion dollar corporations, whose survival depends on recruiting its new addicts before their old ones die," she asserted.

 

She challenged children and adults to make a personal pledge to stay tobacco-free, stressing that they are not powerless in the face of targeted advertising.

 

"If you've already started, then commit to seeking help because addiction is a disease, it is not a moral failing for you, and support is available. Second, share the message with somebody. Speak to somebody today, send a message, post it on your story. Change does not begin in legislation, it begins with conversation. You have more influence over the people around you than any advertising budget ever could. Third, call it out, when it is that you see nicotine marketing targeted at young people," she urged.

 

She said the NCDA will continue its advocacy against tobacco consumption, through the media and parliament, and do all that is necessary to protect the nation's children. 

 

In the meantime, the police have expressed concern about substance use, particularly tobacco products, among school aged children.

 

Detective Corporal Dwight Morgan of the Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID) Area Three, believes the aggression and bad behaviour displayed by some children at schools can be linked to tobacco and drug addiction.

 

Corporal Morgan lamented that the country is losing too many of its young people to these substance addictions and called for stronger interventions from lawmakers. 

 

"You will hear from time to time of different kind of issues taking place within schools, out of the norm situations where aggression and bad behaviour is coming to the fore, more so now than ever. And substance abuse is connected to this kind of behaviour," he suggested. "The children are vaping on a wide scale, from as early as the primary school. It's a cause for concern and I think the country, the legislators need to do something about it. We are losing our children to substance abuse," the officer warned.