A heartbreaking final message from a dying former air force serviceman has intensified the national conversation on the dangers of vaping. Just ten days before his death, Mohd Radzi recorded a video from his hospital bed, connected to tubes with a bag collecting pus from his lungs, urging the young generation to stop. He had switched from smoking 40 cigarettes a day to vaping, believing it was safer—a decision that ultimately cost him his life.
A Growing Epidemic Among Filipino Youth
Radzi's tragic story is far from an isolated case. Vaping, often marketed with sleek designs and candy-like flavors, has become a dangerous lifestyle trend among the youth. Many students operate under the mistaken belief that "at least it's not cigarettes," but medical evidence tells a different story.
The Philippine Pediatric Society has reported a sharp increase in e-cigarette use among minors, with cases of Evali (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury) now affecting teenagers. The country's first confirmed case was a 16-year-old from the Visayas who required intensive care. Health experts stress that vaping is not a harmless alternative; studies show it damages blood vessels, strains the heart, and rarely helps smokers quit, often leading to dual use of both cigarettes and vapes.
Marketing Illusions and Secondhand Risks
The aggressive marketing of vapes, featuring bubblegum flavors and social media influencer campaigns, creates a dangerous illusion of safety. As noted by Dr. Maricar Limpin, "poison, even diluted, is still poison." The World Health Organization (WHO) has condemned this tactic, with WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus stating it is dishonest to talk about harm reduction while marketing to children.
The danger extends beyond the user. Vape clouds contain ultrafine particles, heavy metals, and carcinogens, turning classrooms, jeepneys, and cafes into involuntary exposure zones. The cultural shift is palpable, with strawberry or mint-scented fog now common in hallways, masking a serious public health issue.
Government Response and Staggering Statistics
The Department of Health (DOH) is taking a firm stand, aligning with global WHO efforts to curb vaping. The agency has forcefully rejected claims that vapes are "safer" or "nicotine-free," highlighting that minors are primary targets. The DOH is now advocating for a full nationwide ban on vapes, a move prompted by alarming data and the nation's first recorded vape-related death.
The numbers paint a frightening picture: from 37,000 vapers in 2021 to over 400,000 in 2023. At this rate, a million users by 2025 seems inevitable. While the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has suspended online vape sales, enforcement remains a challenge. Health advocates are pushing for stricter measures: raising the minimum age to 21, banning flavored pods, and restoring regulatory authority to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Beyond policies and statistics, it is the personal stories—a student struggling to breathe after P.E., a teacher avoiding the faculty lounge, a parent discovering a vape in a child's bag—that drive the point home. This is not merely an individual health choice; it is a shared-space crisis affecting the air everyone breathes.
Vaping is not rebellion, freedom, or harmless. It is a culture shrouded in smoke, promising relief but delivering profound harm. Radzi's final warning serves as a sobering reminder: the clouds enjoyed today may become the regrets of tomorrow. Before taking another puff, one must ask: is this risk worth it, not just for oneself, but for everyone nearby?
