Dissemination of the Database of Electronic Cigarette Industry Strategy and Harm Reduction Actors in Encouraging the Use of Electronic Cigarettes in Indonesia

• Posted by: Admin
• Kamis, 25 Juli 2024
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Dissemination of the Database of Electronic Cigarette Industry Strategy and Harm Reduction Actors in Encouraging the Use of Electronic Cigarettes in Indonesia

Indonesia is the country with the most Electronic smokers in the world. The rampant use of Electronic cigarettes began in 2011 and has continued to increase until now. The trend of Electronic cigarettes is now one of the major threats to increasing smoking behavior, especially among teenagers. The prevalence of electronic cigarette use (Electronic) in adults in Indonesia has increased 10 times from 0.3% in 2011 to 3.0% in 2021 (GATS 2021). Based on the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey Data in Indonesia, the use of electronic cigarettes in adolescents is actually higher, namely 8.5% in adolescents aged 10 to 18 years.

The increasing use of Electronic cigarettes cannot be separated from the industry's aggressiveness in promoting its products using various marketing strategies. In promoting its products, the industry together with the actors who support it use claims that electronic cigarettes are safer and can be an alternative to quit smoking so that more young people are influenced and then interested in trying its products.

Currently, the Center for NCDs, Tobacco Control and Lung Health Research Center (Udayana CENTRAL) of Udayana University has collected data related to industry strategies and harm reduction actors in encouraging the use of electronic cigarettes in Indonesia and developed it in the form of a database. In this regard, coinciding with the series of National Children's Day commemorations, the Udayana CENTRAL team in collaboration with the Indonesian Child Protection Agency (LPAI) and Raya Indonesia held a dissemination to convey the results of data collection so that it can be used by various parties in compiling efforts to control electronic cigarettes. This dissemination was held at the Harper Hotel, Jakarta. (25/7/2024)

Data collection was conducted in October 2023 – February 2024. The results of data collection show that there are 4 groups actively campaigning for e-cigarettes with the following harm reduction narrative:

Research Group and Educational Institution

This group uses an academic approach to convince the government to support the use of e-cigarettes. One of these groups even became a pioneer in the pro-vaping campaign by holding workshops, seminars, public discussions, and other activities related to e-cigarettes as an alternative to reducing the harm of tobacco.

Seller Group

It is very clear that the goal of this group is to sell as many products as possible. E-cigarette sellers form associations to encourage the use of cigarettes electronic. They do not even hesitate to go directly to the government to reject regulations related to the use of electronic cigarettes because they are considered detrimental to them. The industry is also not half-hearted in demanding the government to determine its products as SNI so that it can convince the public that its products are safe.

Consumer Groups

Every year this group holds a 'VAPE FAIR' activity where pro-electronic cigarette groups are also present at the event to influence public perception. Members of the consumer group are mostly young people, raising concerns that more and more young people will be influenced by this group and the industry.

Other Groups

This group is packaged in the form of movements, websites, or organizations specifically to disseminate information related to electronic cigarettes. The TAR and Smoke Free Movement (GEBRAK!) is one of the movements developed by pro-electronic cigarette groups. This movement is even accompanied by an online petition that reads "Our Indifferent Attitude Kills Others, Support Low-Risk Products.

According to the Head of Udayana Central, dr. Putu Ayu Swandewi Astuti, MPH, Ph.D. who is also the Coordinator of the Undergraduate Study Program in Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, this study is expected to be an input for the government in efforts to improve control of the use of addictive substances in the form of cigarettes and e-cigarettes. The Ministry of Health is currently fighting for prevention and protection efforts, especially for children and adolescents from the use of cigarette and e-cigarette products by compiling related articles in the Draft Government Regulation on Health (RPP Health) as a derivative of the Health Law No. 17 of 2023.

The tendency to use e-cigarette products is increasingly worrying, especially since several news reports indicate the mixing of illegal drugs so that it is very bad for the community, especially the younger generation. "Support from all parties is highly expected so that efforts to control smoking behavior and the use of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products can be carried out optimally. The Ministry of Health is very committed to efforts to make the community healthy, but we cannot do it alone, we need the participation of all parties to prevent the occurrence of a double burden due to the use of these addictive products," said Dr. Eva Susanti, Skep, M.Kes - Director of Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia

One of the Udayana CENTRAL Research Team, Dr. I Made Kerta Duana, SKM, MPH said that the behavior of using e-cigarettes in adolescents is very worrying. This is certainly very unfortunate because of the impact of addiction and other health problems that arise. "Previous studies have shown that the use of e-cigarettes can be a gateway to entering the use of conventional cigarettes for novice users, or becoming double smokers for those who try to quit smoking by using e-cigarettes but end up using both."