On Friday June 9th, 2023 the HCC and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) delivered a webinar, “Clearing the Air – Vaping and Youth in The Caribbean” to launch HCC’s new report, “Vaping Among Adolescents and Youth in The Caribbean: Situation, Policy Responses, and Recommended Actions”.
The report highlights that among individuals aged 13 to 15 years in the 35 PAHO Member States, the highest prevalence of current tobacco use (25.3%) was reported in the Caribbean, noting that ENDS/ENNDS use is also widespread and on the increase in the Caribbean. The report also makes recommendations to CARICOM governments—and their key partners and stakeholders—for priority actions to prevent and reduce ENDS/ENNDS use and harms among young people in the Caribbean.
Panellists emphasised the urgency of taking action to combat youth vaping given its high prevalence use among adolescents in the Caribbean. Vaping, defined as the inhalation and exhalation of vapour created by an electronic device, which heats a liquid containing nicotine, flavourings, and chemicals, poses significant risks.
See the promotional video for the report below.
CARICOM countries, most of which have ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, are therefore urged to take swift action to implement regulatory measures to prohibit or restrict the manufacture, import, distribution, presentation, sale, and use of the vaping products, and to ensure that where tobacco control legislative provisions are already in place, but do not effectively address novel products, these laws are updated. Similarly, where no legislative measures are in place, countries are urged to take the relevant steps to ensure that new and emerging products including ENDS/ENNDS are adequately regulated from the outset.