Catholic schools in Thailand are taking decisive action against e-cigarette use in response to alarming reports of students suffering from respiratory issues linked to vaping.
Recent incidents include multiple cases of students in state schools experiencing chest tightness, coughing, and other symptoms requiring hospitalization, as well as the tragic death of a 15-year-old last month.
Public health officials have also reported cases of children as young as 11 using e-cigarettes, raising urgent concerns.
At a meeting of the Board of the Catholic Education Council of Thailand (CECT) on Wednesday, Feb. 19, in Bangkok, Fr. Paul Ekarat Homprathum, CECT Secretary General, emphasized the council’s commitment to combating this growing health crisis.
He reported that CECT has been actively encouraging Catholic schools to adopt the seven measures outlined in the Ministry of Public Health’s Smoke-Free Campaign.
These measures include implementing a “Smoke-Free School” policy, integrating anti-smoking education into curricula, involving students in smoke-free initiatives, and supporting those seeking to quit smoking.
“Catholic schools are especially taking a stand against e-cigarettes by informing all school administrators and parents about their harmful consequences, aiming to prevent the use of these dangerous devices among students,” Fr. Homprathum said.
His 10-page report detailed numerous projects already underway in response to the troubling rise in vaping among school-aged children.
CECT has so far provided funding for four dioceses to organize anti-e-cigarette campaigns in Catholic schools, with plans to extend support to seven more dioceses.
“Despite a nationwide ban on e-cigarette sales, the increasing popularity of vaping among youth has prompted us to join the millions calling for urgent government intervention,” Fr. Homprathum noted.
The issue remains critical despite multiple legal restrictions. Thailand banned e-cigarette imports in 2014, prohibited their sale in 2015 under the Consumer Protection Board’s order, and imposed a 5,000-baht fine for smoking e-cigarettes in restricted public areas under the Tobacco Product Control Act of 2017.
However, e-cigarettes remain widely available, particularly targeting children and youth through online platforms.
Health officials acknowledge growing concerns about the prevalence of e-cigarettes in schools, though the full extent of the problem remains unknown.
“The attraction of e-cigarettes is fueled by aggressive and often misleading online advertising, which normalizes these products and cleverly associates them with a trendy, rebellious lifestyle, making them highly appealing to impressionable teenagers,” a public health official warned.
Students themselves have admitted the influence of online marketing. “E-cigarettes are all over social media, and companies target us because they know we are easily influenced,” one student confessed after being caught vaping by a teacher. A school official added,
“Currently, it’s mainly young people using electronic cigarettes. They are drawn to them because of their colorful and appealing designs.”
This aggressive marketing strategy underscores the urgent need to protect young people from the tobacco industry’s manipulative tactics through increased awareness and proactive interventions.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), marketing encompasses any action that promotes a product or service to increase its appeal and consumption.
In the case of e-cigarettes, this includes enticing flavors, colorful designs, influencer endorsements, and misleading health claims, all of which contribute to their growing popularity among youth.
