Users are experiencing serious health issues as a result of the nation’s rising vaping usage. At a hospital in Thimphu, two youngsters were recently diagnosed with collapsed lungs. Both were found to have been vaping e-cigarettes after an inquiry. Similarly, about 15 cases of teens getting lung cysts as a result of vaping were documented by medical authorities. E-cigarettes, which were first promoted as a safer substitute for conventional smoking and a cessation aid, have quickly become well-liked. E-cigarette or vaping-related lung damage are the terms used by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to describe diseases connected with vaping. Bhutan is lagging behind in enacting strong laws to combat the escalating menace, despite a global understanding of the health hazards associated with vaping.
Because to the Tobacco Control Act 2021’s uncertainties, e-cigarette sales are permitted in Bhutan. Because of this, the majority of e-cigarettes are imported as electronic devices. A remarkable 186,916 e-cigarettes, worth Nu 9.7 million, were imported between January and September of 2024 alone. Compared to the preceding two years combined, this represents a 232 percent gain in value and a seven-fold increase in volume. The sharp increase in the amount and value of e-cigarette imports is indicative of their rising appeal, especially among young people in Bhutan.
