INITIAL research into vaping habits in Bahrain has uncovered the murky presence of a ‘black market’ involving adults supplying children with devices and juices.
The whole idea was to create a tool to help smokers break their cigarette-smoking habits but it appears they are getting the young hooked on nicotine at school age.
The Bahrain Medical Society (BMS) announced its initial finding yesterday expressing concern, ironically as a key conference on vaping opens today in the country.
A ‘vape’, or electronic cigarette, is a device that heats up a liquid to create a vapour the user inhales. The study highlighted the availability of them to young people across Bahrain, despite ‘adults-only’ regulation on the products.
“This in turn has also created a ‘black market’ for these products to exist and the concentration of chemicals to be produced that remains unregulated,” the report claims.
It cited the US Food and Drugs Authority reporting approximately 19pc of American high-schoolers are currently using electronic cigarettes, with 38pc reporting daily habitual use.
“While the exact numbers regarding the prevalence of electronic cigarette use among youth in Bahrain are still being investigated, it can be assumed that Bahrain is seeing a similar rise in popularity,” the study added.
“This has led public health authorities to declare that the issue of vaping needs to be addressed in the kingdom to ensure that future generations are not subjected to the damaging impact of vaping.”
Mr Hanna
The research is being spearheaded by BDF Hospital consultant paediatrician and pulmonary diseases Lieutenant Colonel Dr Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and Consultant Vascular Surgeon Dr Martin Marsh along with Andrew Hanna, a medical student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI–Bahrain).
Dr Marsh
“My 13-year-old daughter told me about vaping in schools and I felt I was obliged to do something about it,” Dr Marsh, who has lived in Bahrain for 10 years, told the GDN.
“The issue cannot be ignored as these devices have high nicotine content which is being absorbed into the brains of these young people.”
The medical community is united on this front stating that nicotine can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s.
He also believes blatant promotion of vaping on social media is hyping the practice and making youngsters think it is ‘cool’ to try on their own and with friends. Before they know it, they’re addicted. “Unfortunately they have no idea of the harm it can cause. We need to make them aware, which is the aim of this study.”
Lt Col Dr Shaikh Salman
Lt Col Dr Shaikh Salman fears that because of the ability to consume nicotine using electronic cigarettes in a completely undetectable fashion, parents and teachers are facing problems in detecting their use both at home and in the classroom.
“Moreover, these devices often contain a substantial higher nicotine concentration compared to traditional cigarettes.
“This has been declared particularly problematic as it dramatically increases the risk of addiction, especially when considering the impact of nicotine on the developing brain.
“By law, minors and young adults cannot buy these from the market, so they get the supply from adult friends.
“This informal group – though not a big industry is in itself – it’s a close circle that works like a black market.”
He added that it was no surprise that these devices were becoming attractive to adolescents as they come in a variety of flavours such as mango, mint and candy and, unlike tobacco smoke, they do not leave noxious smells and can be easy to hide.
“We need to raise awareness among the youth that the main concern – beyond these flavours and smoothness – are the chemicals used, of which we don’t know the possible side effects.
“It appears to be harmful to the lungs as we have examples from the US and UK on minors who are victims of vaping needing urgent medical treatment.
“It is not the nicotine itself, but the chemicals which are proving harmful.”
Lt Col Dr Shaikh Salman said sterner penalties should be enforced to further tighten up the legal ruling on people supplying children.
“There should be clear laws stipulating exact punishments for adults selling these to minors – it is as serious as an adult giving alcohol to a minor in my opinion.”
Vaping does offer significant health benefits in comparison to smoking, with a substantially lowered risk of cancer and other smoking-related illnesses across the board. A Harvard study indicated that 44 per cent of those surveyed believed that e-cigarettes were less harmful than tobacco cigarettes.
The four-day Middle East Vape Show 2022 (MEVS) at the Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir organised by Sawa Services, focuses on showcasing Bahrain as the gateway for GCC and Middle East market for vape devices, products, and accessories. The BMS had warned against Bahrain hosting the MEV describing it as ‘exceptionally disturbing’.
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