Photo courtesy of The Nation

 

In Buriram, Thailand, a 12-year-old girl is critically ill after vaping for two years, which has led to almost complete lung damage. The distressing news came to light when her school informed her family, highlighting the growing youth vaping crisis in Thailand.

 

Her grandmother, Ae, was caught off guard when teachers informed her about the girl's severe lung condition. "I didn't know. She used to be diligent but changed after starting Grade 4," Ae explained. The girl became aloof, stopped helping at home, and frequently went out, claiming to study with friends.

 

Now critically ill and on a ventilator at Satuek Hospital, the girl was admitted after suffering severe shortness of breath, vomiting, and weakness. Medical exams confirmed her lungs were nearly completely damaged due to prolonged vaping.

 

 

Local rescue worker, Paphawarin Simlakorn, first publicized the case on Facebook, warning parents about the dangers of youth vaping. He revealed that three other students in the area were recently hospitalized due to vaping-related chest pain and shortness of breath.

 

This incident follows the death of a 15-year-old from the same area in January, linked to long-term e-cigarette use. Consequently, local police urge parents to remain vigilant as youth vaping increases.

 

Health officials are calling for stricter e-cigarette regulations and awareness campaigns to educate families on vaping dangers. This young girl's plight underscores the severe health risks posed by underage vaping, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-02-20

 

 

For goodness sake people, how many kids are going to die before someone starts to enforce the law vigorously.

Life is going to be extremely difficult for this poor lass from now on all because people think that vaping is safe.

(and please do not bother telling me that you have been vaping for 150 years and your lungs are fine 'cough! cough!')

This is a lack of parental guidance.. a kid that is vaping for 2 years and nobody noticed?? Something is very wrong. And you can call to forbid vaping, but in fact that is not the problem.. Vaping could be allowed but from a certain age and make it expensive... but first of all parents/grandparents take care of the children guide them and protect them. That was not done in this case and many more we don't know

11 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

For goodness sake people, how many kids are going to die before someone starts to enforce the law vigorously.

Life is going to be extremely difficult for this poor lass from now on all because people think that vaping is safe.

(and please do not bother telling me that you have been vaping for 150 years and your lungs are fine 'cough! cough!')

Be real will you? It would be a similar situation if it was smoking, alcohol or yaba. What everyone should really be concerned with here is how a 12 year old has had access to vapes and why no one stopped it?

11 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

For goodness sake people, how many kids are going to die before someone starts to enforce the law vigorously

It's worth too much money, customs must be slack at the border, police are too busy around the country, internet crime suppression are on extended lunch breaks..

illegal yet easy and widely available

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He revealed that three other students in the area were recently hospitalized due to vaping-related chest pain and shortness of breath.

 

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This incident follows the death of a 15-year-old from the same area in January, linked to long-term e-cigarette use.

 

Must be a dodgy vape supplier in the area. I haven't heard of this happening globally.

Very sad. Thai people arent having kids and when they do they let stuff like this happen

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Medical exams confirmed her lungs were nearly completely damaged due to prolonged vaping.

 

Ok point taken. Now what affect did 12 years of breathing outrageously high pm 2.5 have ? 

 

Lung disease in children will explode in thailand in the coming 10 to 20 years. 

I'm not advocating smoking or vaping, but seems to me that vaping is the worse of the two evils. I never smoked but both my parents did for many many years and they never had any lung problems.

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

parents to remain vigilant as youth vaping increases

Remain? Parents make kids and then vigilantly drop them off to be raised by grandma...

The fact that she started at 10 years old is crazy and should have never happened. Unfortunately they don’t know how to make a law and enforcing it. They don’t even do it for cigarettes. Sadly many young children are still going to do this until there are laws and looked after by their parents. Being illegal is just a joke. They need to regulate it like beer and maybe like many places scan their I’d in order to buy anything that requires you to be over 21. Heavy air pollution, age and vapes are not a good thing. Maybe they can at least discuss the dangers in school, instead of just saying they are illegal and obviously not enforced at school. 

12 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

For goodness sake people, how many kids are going to die before someone starts to enforce the law vigorously.

Life is going to be extremely difficult for this poor lass from now on all because people think that vaping is safe.

(and please do not bother telling me that you have been vaping for 150 years and your lungs are fine 'cough! cough!')

You're absolutely right. But I'm afraid you will not receive many positive reactions to your demand.❤️

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

illegal yet easy and widely available

Police man crashed his pickup last week.  The back was loaded with hundreds of cartons of vapes.  Thai news commented.  “Aren’t they illegal”.  

17 minutes ago, jcmj said:

regulate it like beer

Kids can buy beer in family run stores.  I have my wife’s niece (8) run to the local shop when I need a refresher.  

12 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

For goodness sake people, how many kids are going to die before someone starts to enforce the law vigorously.

The are no laws to enforce regarding vaping in Thailand:

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/no-vaping-and-vapes-are-not-illegal-in-thailand-heres-why/
 

It’s illegal to import vape products but corruption and mafia involvement (we all know who are the biggest mafia) means there are more than enough vape products coming into Thailand to meet the demand.  TIT

17 minutes ago, kuzmabruk said:

Police man crashed his pickup last week.  The back was loaded with hundreds of cartons of vapes.  Thai news commented.  “Aren’t they illegal”.  

It depends whether the policeman was importing the vape products, ie, going across the border and bringing them back into Thailand.  If he was doing that then he was breaking the law, if he bought them in Thailand, then no.  Vaping in Thailand is not illegal, only importing vape products is illegal.

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/no-vaping-and-vapes-are-not-illegal-in-thailand-heres-why/

36 minutes ago, kuzmabruk said:

Kids can buy beer in family run stores.  I have my wife’s niece (8) run to the local shop when I need a refresher.  

Then you are the problem, not the local store!

1 hour ago, bananafish said:

Must be a dodgy vape supplier in the area. I haven't heard of this happening globally.

 

References all over the internet and papers.

From 2019

 

https://www.newsweek.com/dangers-vaping-facts-statistics-health-risks-e-cigarettes-lung-illness-causes-teen-deaths-1462071

1 hour ago, klauskunkel said:

Remain? Parents make kids and then vigilantly drop them off to be raised by grandma...

Exactly and it happens here more than any other country worldwide..........Her grandmother, Ae, was caught off guard when teachers informed her about the girl's severe lung condition. "I didn't know. She used to be diligent but changed after starting Grade 4," Ae explained. The girl became aloof, stopped helping at home, and frequently went out, claiming to study with friends. .

54 minutes ago, kuzmabruk said:

Kids can buy beer in family run stores.  I have my wife’s niece (8) run to the local shop when I need a refresher.  

In Thailand, the legal age for selling alcohol is 20 years old. This is governed by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act B.E. 2551 (2008). According to Section 29 of this Act, it is prohibited to sell alcoholic beverages to individuals under the age of 20.This goes along with the lack of care on both sides. Sending a child to buy liquor is illegal. Selling to that child is illegal, but it happens all day long here because. they don't care.

Always amazes me the amount of people that use these . They just appeared out of nowhere with lots of stupid flavours which stink and then everyone just starts using them without question.

ummm…. monkey see, monkey do?

14 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

For goodness sake people, how many kids are going to die before someone starts to enforce the law vigorously.

Life is going to be extremely difficult for this poor lass from now on all because people think that vaping is safe.

(and please do not bother telling me that you have been vaping for 150 years and your lungs are fine 'cough! cough!')

Been Vaping Daily for 15 years and my lungs are fine, only the air quality makes me cough or sneeze once in a while 😆

Grandparents were never intended to be parents, there's something about Thai Society that allows a woman to leave her child with her parents and turn them into complete martyrs. 

 

They probably don't want it but they can't say no. It's a completely ridiculous aspect of Thai society and the grandparents cannot be expected to know the art of parenting, and take care of the child as if it was their own. 

 

So, who's fault is it really? Mama is to blame. Environment is stronger than willpower so you just can't expect a 12 year old to behave in a wise manner. 

3 hours ago, bananafish said:

 

 

Must be a dodgy vape supplier in the area. I haven't heard of this happening globally.

It has happened in the US, some of these people had to have full lung transplants

12 years, aloof, leaving without permission & money to buy vapes ... I say the parents & grandparents are responsible. 

2 hours ago, kuzmabruk said:

Kids can buy beer in family run stores.  I have my wife’s niece (8) run to the local shop when I need a refresher.  

Hopefully, the shop do not sell tobacco and alcohol. In that case you are both breaking the law, and being a very irresponsible parent. Shame one you!

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Grandparents were never intended to be parents, there's something about Thai Society that allows a woman to leave her child with her parents and turn them into complete martyrs. 

 

They probably don't want it but they can't say no. It's a completely ridiculous aspect of Thai society and the grandparents cannot be expected to know the art of parenting, and take care of the child as if it was their own. 

 

So, who's fault is it really? Mama is to blame. Environment is stronger than willpower so you just can't expect a 12 year old to behave in a wise manner. 

However, grandparents were parents in the past and are well versed (Thai style) in the art of parenting.

15 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

For goodness sake people, how many kids are going to die before someone starts to enforce the law vigorously.

Life is going to be extremely difficult for this poor lass from now on all because people think that vaping is safe.

(and please do not bother telling me that you have been vaping for 150 years and your lungs are fine 'cough! cough!')

 

This is a good example why it should be LEGALIZED. Control it with relevant FDA approval for devices and e-liquids and this wouldn't happen. It's not a suprise you get cases like these when the market is flooded with uncontrolled poor quality Chinese stuff. 

 

 

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Grandparents were never intended to be parents, there's something about Thai Society that allows a woman to leave her child with her parents and turn them into complete martyrs.