NT Bureau
DOHA: Leading population health experts at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) have voiced their support for World No Tobacco Day, an initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The theme for 2024, ‘Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference,’ aims to safeguard future generations and ensure a continued decline in tobacco use. This year’s focus highlights the alarming trend of the tobacco industry’s targeted marketing towards youth.
Dr. Sohaila Cheema, assistant dean for Institute for Population Health (IPH) at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), said: “Current data shows that an estimated 37 million youth aged 13-15 years are using tobacco worldwide. Globally, we are currently seeing an alarming increase in the use of newer products like e-cigarettes (vapes), snuff, heated tobacco products, sucking on nicotine patches. These products have high youth appeal. The tobacco industry is also packaging tobacco in new forms like candy- flavoured products and there is evidence that some tobacco companies are actively targeting schools, children and young adults in certain jurisdictions.”
Dr. Ziyad Mahfoud, professor of research in population health sciences at WCM-Q, said although wrongfully perceived as less harmful than cigarette smoking, shisha smoking is associated with many significant health risks such as exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide, heavy metals and carcinogens, leading to the development of chronic diseases.
“Research has shown that certain toxicants and carcinogens are found in higher levels in shisha smoking as compared to cigarette smoking,” he said. “In addition, the long duration of a shisha smoking session increases the intake of such substances and hence can amplify the health risk associated with it.
Moreover, electronic cigarettes or vaping products contain substances that can cause many health risks. Many users reported complications from smoking, the liquid inside the device, and even device exploding.”
