Puebla Ranks 2nd for Young Smokers and Vapers in Mexico
Puebla ranks 2nd in Mexico for young adult smokers; UPAEP study also reveals high e-cigarette use among state’s youth despite national sales ban.
Puebla holds the unfortunate distinction of being the second state in Mexico with the highest number of smokers aged 19 to 29, according to an analysis by the Popular Autonomous University of the State of Puebla (UPAEP). This local data was presented by Dr. Eduardo López Villalobos, Coordinator of UPAEP’s Emergency Medical Clinic, in observance of World No Tobacco Day (May 31st).
Dr. López Villalobos shared concerning statistics, noting that globally there are 1.25 billion smokers, though the proportion has decreased. In Mexico, an estimated 15 million people smoke, leading to 118 deaths daily (over 43,000 annually) from smoking-related causes, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases. He emphasized that smoking is linked to over 40 types of cancer and can cause heritable genetic mutations.
Locally, in Puebla, approximately 655,000 people smoke, representing 16% of the state’s population, with men (82%) significantly outnumbering women (18%). The high prevalence among young adults (19-29 years) is a major concern. Furthermore, over 28,000 adolescents in Puebla aged 12 to 17 are already smokers, predominantly males. Among adults aged 18-65 in the state, 33.2% of men and 6.2% of women are active tobacco consumers.
The use of electronic cigarettes or vapes is also notably high. In Puebla, 26.9% of adults and 24.2% of adolescents use these devices, with adolescent males leading this trend. Dr. López Villalobos lamented that while vapes were ironically created as a smoking cessation tool, in Mexico, they often serve as an entry point to tobacco use for young people, despite their commercialization being prohibited nationally. He stressed that e-cigarettes are not harmless, stating, “They are not as harmful as cigarettes themselves, but they do cause harm nonetheless. It is not a healthy thing.” He called for a comprehensive strategy involving families, schools, government, and media to combat tobacco and vape use, emphasizing prevention as the best tool.
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