Photo courtesy of Firstpost

 

A recent survey by Thailand's Department of Health Service Support (DHSS) has shed light on the troubling rise in e-cigarette use among young people, with the youngest user shockingly reported at just six years old. This revelation underscores a growing vaping epidemic in the nation.

 

The DHSS Health Education Division conducted the survey earlier this year, engaging 40,344 Thai youths to investigate e-cigarette, or pod, usage. DHSS Director-General Panuwat Panket shared these startling findings on 3rd September, highlighting a significant increase in vaping among Thailand's younger population.

 

The data shows that 19 to 25-year-olds make up the largest group of users, representing 37.62% of the total. This is followed by the 16 to 18-year-olds at 29.26% and the 13 to 15-year-olds at 22.39%. Alarmingly, the average age for new users is just 13.

 

Peer pressure emerged as a major factor, with 45.56% of respondents admitting they started e-cigarettes due to friends' influence. Social media platforms also contribute significantly to this trend, with Facebook leading e-cigarette advertisements at 27.88% and TikTok closely trailing at 27.6%.

 

Moreover, the survey revealed a worrying lack of awareness about vaping’s dangers among the youth. Despite widespread use, many respondents seem uninformed about the severe health risks associated with e-cigarettes.

 

Health officials are sounding the alarm, urging for more awareness campaigns and stricter regulations to tackle the rising popularity of vaping. With e-cigarettes becoming increasingly accessible via social media and peer influences, preventive measures are urgently needed.

 

As Thailand confronts this escalating issue, the DHSS is calling on the public and authorities to take rapid action to safeguard the health and future of the country's youth. The situation demands concerted efforts to address both the root causes and immediate threats of this vaping crisis.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-09-04

 

 

Yep, I throwed out 7 guys at the age of 14-17 playing pool at our place yesterday for bringing kratom drinks into the place and vaping.

The government is happy to ban e-cigarettes.  Why not.  There friends with the tobacco monopolizes don't want that competition.  They'll tell you how bad e-cigarettes are and what a danger "to the children" but mention that cigarettes are terrible for your health.  "Shhhhhhh"  <silence>  

Everwhere in the world it is the same. Forbid something and see what people will do. Put a sign at a red button with don't push this and see how many it will push. For kids however ot are the parents and the shopkeepers that are responsible for selling and buying. But parents don't care about their kids and shopkeepers only care about their profit.

After the last crack down on vapes all the kids and youngsters in the neighborhood due to lack of supply switched to  real cigarettes. Smart these officials. Aren't they. Most likely just well greased lowlifes.  

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This revelation underscores a growing vaping epidemic in the nation.

Yet they are illegal and openly on sale in many places...

I would be interested in knowing how many of these kids swapped cigarettes for vapes.

 

That would be a win in my book. 

Tobacco use does not alarm them, but since they don't control the monopoly on E-cigarettes, they are rather alarmed at the potential loss of profits. 

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Tobacco use does not alarm them, but since they don't control the monopoly on E-cigarettes, they are rather alarmed at the potential loss of profits. 

Yep exactly right we can't have everyone giving up cigarettes the economy would go into meltdown, the UK deal with it by doubling the price of a box of cigarettes every year!

Yet another propaganda piece on behalf of the Thai government. 🙄

 

It's a good job they don't sell Heroin. They would immediately ban Aspirin, Paracetamol and Ibuprofen so that everyone has to inject themselves with smack every time they have a headache.

20 hours ago, connda said:

The government is happy to ban e-cigarettes.  Why not.  There friends with the tobacco monopolizes don't want that competition.  They'll tell you how bad e-cigarettes are and what a danger "to the children" but mention that cigarettes are terrible for your health.  "Shhhhhhh"  <silence>  

Keep up with medical reports, vaping has been recognised internationally as a health hazard.

2 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

Keep up with medical reports, vaping has been recognised internationally as a health hazard.

 

Ridiculous straw man.

 

Firstly, vaping is far safer than smoking cigarettes and secondly, most of the 'health hazards' are from nicotine's effect on blood vessels.

Rather looks hypocritical "Health Risk" concern.

What are they really worrying about?

 

About more and more young Thais(and their under age population) now switching to e.smoke, from the conventional tobacco?

That can cause a significant  downturn in their traditional smoke market.

If their real thoughts is about that, makes a lot of sense.

 

As Thai govt announced the ban on vapor in recent months, in order to protect the economic interests of their tobacco industry.

Flame post & reply removed 

 

@redwood1

Most 10 - 18 YO here have zero prospects for the future and they know it, not anyone's children here of course, they're all set to become thoracic surgeons or captains of industry.

 

So they look for ways to express themselves and flex their individuality. Better to let them vape than what they're doing in Indonesia.

 

 

Unfortunately the ministry for hysteria have made vapes far more attractive to the kids get them on the new PM's weed it's better for them and more importantly better for him 🤔

Vaping may be safer than smoking cigarettes, but that doesn't mean that they are safe. Just safer than a well-known poison. Kids don't care. They know they will live forever. 

 

But we've all seen the end result of smoking. These days, almost everyone knows someone who died of the complications of smoking, be they heart, lung, or circulatory system breakdowns.  It's not a surprise any longer.
If you, as a rational adult, still smoke, it's because you want to die, regardless of the rationalizations you give yourself. Vaping will just slow that process down.

Nobody smokes for good health.

On 9/5/2025 at 6:43 PM, GanDoonToonPet said:

 

Ridiculous straw man.

 

Firstly, vaping is far safer than smoking cigarettes and secondly, most of the 'health hazards' are from nicotine's effect on blood vessels.

Firstly, I never said anything about cigarettes, you used that to strengthen your comment...now, go read this.

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/e-cigarettes/health-effects.html