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In alignment with the World Health Organization’s World No Tobacco Day 2024 theme, “Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference,” a significant event took place at the Indian International Centre, New Delhi. Organized by Mothers Against Vaping, the event, titled “Saving the Next Generation from New-Age Addictions,” drew attention to the escalating vaping crisis among youth.
Mothers Against Vaping, a coalition of concerned mothers, convened to pledge their commitment to protecting children from the pervasive influence of the global tobacco industry. The event saw participation from notable figures, including Kushboo Sundar, actress, politician, and member of the BJP National Executive Committee and the National Commission for Women, and Kishwar Desai, author and columnist. They joined a distinguished group of sports icons and role models such as Baichung Bhutia, Deepa Malik, and Neha Dhupia, all united in the fight against the proliferation of vaping among children.
The event underscored the urgency of the issue, with the diverse support highlighting its critical importance. A key feature of the event was the release of a 4-point agenda by Mothers Against Vaping, aimed at countering the five popular strategies allegedly used by the global tobacco industry to promote gateway devices to young children.
Dr. Bhavna Barmi, Clinical Psychologist and Founder of Happiness Studio, spoke about the reasons behind the rising popularity of these new-age devices among children. “Children’s mental states make them highly susceptible to early experimentation with addictive behaviors. Hence, we are witnessing a troubling surge in children being drawn to enticing electronic addictive devices like vapes and e-cigarettes. A major factor fuelling this trend is the packaging and advertising tactics employed by manufacturers of these modern devices,” Dr. Barmi explained.
A significant moment during the event was the Pledge Ceremony, led by Chief Guest Deepa Malik, a prominent member of Mothers Against Vaping. “This pledge is crucial. I am deeply troubled to see how our children are being lured by the tactics of device manufacturers, risking lifelong addictions not just to nicotine but to even more dangerous substances,” Malik stated. She emphasized the importance of providing children with more engaging activities like sports, promoting a healthy and bright future.
Kushboo Sundar highlighted the dangerous impact of vaping and e-cigarettes on the lives of children and youth. “As a nation, we are making great strides towards securing a bright future for our children. However, we must confront pressing issues that plague their present reality, such as the alarming prevalence of New Age Gateway Devices like e-cigarettes and vapes. It is deeply troubling to see how manufacturers of such devices are targeting our children with the intention of creating their future customer base with these enticingly sleek and sophisticated products,” Sundar expressed.
Kishwar Desai added her perspective, emphasizing the allure of sleek electronic devices and the importance of steering children away from them. “With sleek electronic devices captivating children’s attention nowadays, they are often drawn to try them out—whether to appear cool, satisfy curiosity or as a means to express themselves. But this is a dangerous road. As mothers, citizens and thought leaders, it is our duty to hold up a mirror to them and convey that this road only leads to disaster and a life unfulfilled,” Desai remarked.
The event marked a significant step in the fight against vaping among youth, bringing together influential voices to advocate for a healthier future for children. Mothers Against Vaping’s commitment to this cause serves as a powerful reminder of the collective effort required to protect the next generation from the dangers of new-age addictions.
