Dutee Chand, a national sprint champion and Olympian, has joined a group of influential sports icons, including Baichung Bhutia, Deepa Malik, and Neha Dhupia, in supporting Mothers Against Vaping in their campaign against the rising trend of vaping among Indian youth.
The Mothers Against Vaping is a collective of women dedicated to combating the proliferation of new-age tobacco devices, particularly among children and adolescents.
In a statement, Mothers Against Vaping emphasized the urgent need to address the health crisis facing young people due to the increasing use of electronic tobacco products. They highlighted the significance of proactive measures to raise awareness and implement concrete steps for protecting youth from the harmful effects of vaping.
Chand’s support and involvement will shine a powerful spotlight on the issue and raise its awareness, visibility and impact, the Mothers Against Vaping said in a statement.
Quoting Dutee Chand, the statement said that “the need to highlight the devastating impact that vaping and e-cigarettes have on the lives of children.”
“Today, we are sprinting ahead as a sporting nation. From athletics to chess, it is thrilling to see the rise of talented youngsters in diverse sports fields. But issues like harmful vaping habits among youngsters are setting us back so we must speak out against this trend,” she was quoted as saying.
“Children deserve to pursue their dreams, play and build their futures free from harmful distractions like vaping. Engaging in such habits can derail their paths and jeopardise their aspirations. Children, parents, teachers and society as a whole must understand the consequences of vaping and take proactive steps to eradicate this menace from our communities and our children’s lives,” added Chand.
She highlighted the importance of creating an environment where children can pursue their dreams and aspirations without being derailed by harmful distractions like vaping. Chand called for collective action from parents, teachers, and society to eradicate this menace from communities and safeguard the future of children.
Mothers Against Vaping pointed out the multitude of health risks associated with vaping, including the emergence of lung injuries such as EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury). They debunked the misconception that vapors from modern tobacco devices are harmless, citing evidence of harmful substances like nicotine and diacetyl, which have been linked to severe lung injuries and other health complications.
The organization also highlighted the aggressive tactics employed by multinational companies to target vulnerable youth and expand their market base through social media advertising campaigns that glamorize and normalize the use of electronic devices.
Various countries including India, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Argentina, Japan and Brazil have banned vaping devices and e-cigarettes under comprehensive legislation addressing their production, distribution, and advertising. India’s Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019 was enacted in response to growing concerns over the addictive nature of these products and their adverse health effects, particularly on young people.
In India, vaping devices and e-cigarettes were banned under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019, which comprehensively addresses all aspects of their production, distribution, and advertising.
