Deputy Prime Minister Sophon Zarum, as the newly appointed chairman of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), has pledged swift and decisive action to combat the rising use of e-cigarettes and narcotics among Thai youth despite the government’s short tenure.
Speaking after a ThaiHealth board meeting recently, Mr Sophon’s focus was on reports of the rapid spread of e-cigarette use that has been increasing tenfold among those aged 15-24 within a span of three years.
“I affirm that this government will not seek revenue from the vaping industry,” said Mr Sophon.
During the meeting, data was cited including how cigarette smoking remains a major global health threat, causing over 8 million deaths each year — among them, more than seven million deaths are caused by direct smoking and another 1.2 million by second-hand smoke.
Smoking increases the risk of heart disease two to four times and lung cancer up to 25 times.
In Thailand, smoking rates are steadily declining, with 9.8 million smokers, accounting for 16.5% of people aged 15 and over, down from 17.4% in 2021, according to 2024 figures from the National Statistical Office.
Men account for the vast majority of smokers.
Smoking is most prevalent in the South at 22.2%, followed by the Northeast (17.9%) and lowest in the Central Plains (14.2%).
But e-cigarette use has surged to around 900,500 users, including more than 251,600 youths aged 15-24. This sharp rise reflects how the tobacco industry has adapted its marketing strategies to attract younger users, the meeting concluded.
Other data on substance use was also discussed including the 1.9 million Thais who use kratom, 1.6 million who use narcotic substances and 1.5 million each who use cannabis and methamphetamine.
Among them, 330,000 people are in need of rehabilitation and 220,000 are suffering from mental health issues.
The meeting also noted a worrying trend that around 21,000 people, as of 2024, were using a mixture of illegal substances.
They are in need of specialised rehabilitation and are at risk of severe health complications as a result of multiple drug interactions.
The deputy PM also highlighted two major public health challenges: natural ageing and illness, which require heavy investment and advanced medical technology; and health problems arising from personal behaviour, such as non-communicable diseases (NCDs), depression and drug abuse.