Researchers and health professionals during a talk on World No Tobacco Day.
The research center of the Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo (UEES) analyzed the consumption of electronic cigarettes in 3,443 students from 6 colleges, schools and four universities in Quito, Guayaquil, Samborondón, Salitre and Portoviejo. The surveys determined that 52% acquired this smoking device at least once, since they were 12 years old.
“I see young people who are in college who are already more aware of the harm and want to quit smoking electronic cigarettes and can't because they get withdrawal symptoms,” explains researcher Iván Chérrez.
According to the study, students from universities and private schools are the ones who use electronic cigarettes the most. Seventy-six % of young people smoke for more than one hour after waking up and during the day, they smoke between 11 and 30 times.
These results will be formally presented to the health authorities to regulate the marketing of electronic cigarettes so that minors do not buy them, but UEES researchers strongly believe that the sale of these health-harmful devices should not be allowed.
