Northeast India’s gradual preference to E-Cigarettes may not be a good sign!

By migrator | Dec 14, 2017, 17:12 IST

GUWAHATI | December 14, 2017

There is a slow but gradual increase in the use of electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes in some NE states, revealed a latest Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) released last month.

E-cigarette, also called vape, is an alternative to paper cigarettes which functions by heating a liquid composed of nicotine and other flavours. A user inhales the vapour which is released upon heating. Both Mizoram and Manipur recorded a slight increase in awareness and also use of e-cigarettes. Interestingly, 8% of people in Manipur know about e-cigarettes contrary to the national figure of 3%. Again, out of this 8%, 2.5% smoke the product.

In Mizoram, 4.3% are aware of it and 1.8% of them use it. In Meghalaya, 2.8% of people are aware of e-cigarettes. Out of them, 2.3% use it which is again higher than the national figure of 0.7%.

"The use of e-cigarettes is still low in the country ," said Sulabha Parasuraman, consultant of GATS 2 and faculty member of Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Ashok Das, cancer expert from Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute, said, "This is an emerging trend in our country. Users of tobacco products feel that e-cigarette is an alternative. But this product contains carcinogens and is not at all an alternative to paper cigarettes. It is equally harmful."
Source: Times of India
Featured image courtesy: News atlas

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