Cambodia Launches Campaign to Combat E-cigarette

Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports Introduces New Guidelines to Raise Awareness of E-cigarette Dangers

The Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports has launched a campaign to enhance education and raise awareness among students about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes. This initiative comes as the vast majority of e-cigarette users in Cambodia fall within the 15 to 29 age range.

Speaking at a workshop on e-cigarette use and spread among adolescents held on March 27 in Phnom Penh, Soeur Socheata, Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports, discussed the government’s new guidelines. These guidelines classify e-cigarettes as addictive substances and require teachers and education managers to disseminate this information to students.

New Guidelines Emphasize Health Risks and Legal Consequences

The new guidelines state that e-cigarettes pose health risks, and the use, import, distribution, and sale of these products are strictly prohibited by law. However, Soeur Socheata acknowledged that the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports alone lacks sufficient resources to prevent e-cigarette use among students, as most young people use these products outside the school environment.

The ministry is collaborating with other relevant agencies, such as the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Information, and Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, to take legal action against the advertising and sale of e-cigarettes on online social media platforms targeting youth.

Survey Reveals Alarming E-cigarette Use Among Students

A recent survey conducted in Phnom Penh and three other provinces revealed that three-quarters (75%) of current and former e-cigarette users in Cambodia are students. The products are advertised and sold through social media. The vast majority of the more than 1,300 adolescents surveyed reported having seen e-cigarettes and being aware of their harmful effects, with 79% knowing that e-cigarettes are prohibited products.

As the Cambodian government takes decisive action to combat e-cigarette use among youth, the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports remains committed to raising awareness and educating students about the dangers associated with these products.

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Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.