Controlling these new-generation tobacco products requires the joint efforts of families, schools, functional agencies, and the whole society. In Điện Biên, many solutions are being implemented to prevent e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products from infiltrating schools and the community.

While previously, the image of a smoker was often associated with traditional cigarettes, nowadays, new-generation tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are increasingly popular with compact designs, striking colors, and attractive flavors. With just a few search operations on social media, users can easily come across advertisements such as “less harmful than regular cigarettes”, “no unpleasant odor”, and “trendy and stylish”. It is these advertisements, playing on youths’ curiosity and love for exploration, that have made e-cigarettes a concerning threat to public health.

Alongside e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products are becoming increasingly popular among youths. This type of product uses a specialized device to heat the tobacco, creating an aerosol containing nicotine and many toxic chemicals for the user to inhale. Although it does not produce smoke like traditional cigarettes, heated tobacco still contains addictive nicotine along with many additives and flavorings that pose potential health risks.

Challenges in management and prevention

According to an evaluation of the implementation of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms in the 2023 - 2025 period, the awareness of residents in Điện Biên province regarding the harms of tobacco has gradually improved. However, the emergence of new-generation tobacco products with eye-catching and easily accessible designs poses many challenges for the management and prevention of tobacco harms, especially among adolescents.

Quàng Đức Trọng, a student at Thanh Nưa High School, said he had been enticed by friends to use e-cigarettes many times. The compact devices with pleasant scents, introduced as “not as harmful as traditional cigarettes,” once made him curious.

“After being educated by my teachers, I realized that e-cigarettes still contain addictive nicotine and many substances harmful to health. Since then, I have proactively stayed away from them and advised my friends not to try,” Trọng shared.

Not a few cases have paid the price due to a lack of understanding about the harms of these types of tobacco. N.V.T. (Điện Biên Phủ ward), after regularly using e-cigarettes for a period, developed symptoms of prolonged coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, and had to seek treatment at a medical facility.

According to doctors, many adolescents mistakenly believe this is a safer product than traditional cigarettes. However, nicotine and the chemical compounds present in the inhaled solution and aerosol can affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, as well as the body’s development. Therefore, students and adolescents should absolutely not try or use them in any form to avoid the risk of nicotine dependence and long-term health consequences.

Despite warnings about health risks, the promotion and trading of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products on the internet remain complicated. Many items are openly sold on online platforms, causing difficulties for the inspection and supervision work of functional agencies. In the 2023 - 2025 period, the whole province recorded 6 cases of violating regulations on tobacco advertising, while simultaneously discovering and handling 2 smuggling cases, seizing over 2,500 packs of smuggled cigarettes.

Functional forces detected and handled 2 tobacco smuggling cases, seizing over 2,500 packs of smuggled cigarettes, contributing to preventing tobacco products of unknown origin from circulating in the market. Although the number of detected cases is not large, the reality shows that new-generation tobacco products are still silently creeping into daily life, especially among youths.

Implementing synchronous solutions

Facing the risk of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products infiltrating the community, Điện Biên province has implemented many synchronous solutions to raise awareness and build a smoke-free environment. In the 2023 - 2025 period, the province organized nearly 100 direct communication sessions for over 20,000 attendees; and trained over 1,600 officials on the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms and building a smoke-free environment.

Communication work has been stepped up on multiple platforms with hundreds of reportages, radio broadcasts, news articles, social media posts, and thousands of propaganda materials. The content focuses on warning about the harms of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, shisha, and new-generation tobacco products; while simultaneously disseminating legal regulations on tobacco harm prevention and control.

Through propaganda efforts, many agencies and units have integrated tobacco harm prevention and control contents into their emulation criteria; officials, public servants, and public employees sign commitments not to smoke in the workplace. The health sector maintains the “Smoke-free Hospital” movement; the education sector promotes the building of the “Smoke-free School” model, enhancing communication to students about the harms of tobacco and new-generation tobacco products.

At the Điện Biên Province Ethnic Boarding High School, tobacco harm prevention and control contents are integrated into extracurricular activities, life skills education, and collective activities. Students sign commitments not to use or bring tobacco and e-cigarettes into the school; and are closely monitored and reminded by teachers, youth union, and the boarding management department.

Vũ Trung Hoàn, the school’s principal, stated: “The school not only propagates but also helps students clearly understand the long-term consequences of nicotine on health, studies, and their future, thereby raising their awareness of self-protection against new tobacco products.”

In 2026, Điện Biên province continues to strengthen solutions to prevent the use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, shisha, and new-generation tobacco products, while simultaneously reducing the rate of people exposed to secondhand smoke in public places. Along with stepping up propaganda on mass media and digital platforms to raise awareness and change people’s behavior, functional agencies will strengthen inspections, examinations, and strictly handle illegal advertising and trading of smuggled tobacco, fake tobacco, and new-generation tobacco products.

E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are posing new challenges to the protection of public health, especially for youths. Therefore, besides the involvement of all levels and sectors, there is a great need for the joint efforts of families, schools, and the entire society in raising awareness and guiding adolescents to stay away from tobacco products, contributing to building a healthy, smoke-free living environment.