Consumption data point to a tobacco and nicotine epidemic in Latvia. The number of smokers has started to multiply again. The use of electronic cigarettes in certain age groups has even doubled in a few years. The age at which children first try them is also changing.
Electronic cigarettes are particularly popular among young people aged 15-24. "This is literally a doubling from 22% to 44% since 2016," said Iveta Pudule, Senior Public Health Analyst at theDisease Prevention and Control Center (SPKC).
Many parents of children who smoke still believe the industry myth that nicotine from electronic cigarettes is less harmful than regular cigarettes. "They imagine that smoking electronic cigarettes is harmless, but it's not," added Pudule.
"These substances, especially the fragrances, they are also very, very toxic. In the lungs of an immature child they accumulate, and over the years this toxicity will manifest itself, and what is certain is that the child's brain and also the lungs are still developing after the age of 20, and if they are poisoned daily or even a few times a week with these toxic substances, then this development will be hampered," said Renāte Snipe, chief pulmonologist at the Children's Clinical University Hospital (BKUS).
She pointed out that a child who smokes will not reach the maximum potential of their lung function nor of their brain.
"Disposable cigarettes are very hard to fight because they are cheap. They are the most interesting and accessible to young people, purely on price. And of course, they also cause huge pollution," said Snipe.
And while new restrictions in Latvia are making the industry's work more difficult, a recent study by experts at Riga Stradins University (RSU) concludes that there is still room for improvement.
"Experts from the World Health Organisation have calculated that the tax should be increased by at least 10% and for all nicotine products. We are not keeping up with this price increase. In fact, for inflation, the new rate of increase is too slow to have an impact on consumption habits,' said Anda Ķīvīte-Urtāne, Director of the RSU Institute of Public Health.
Public health experts have also concluded that nicotine control policies are generally good enough. But the most important thing that is lacking is real help to quit smoking for those who want it. Effective work with schoolchildren is also lacking.
