WHO urges governments to protect young people from tobacco and nicotine addiction
The Story
The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on governments worldwide to protect young people from addiction to tobacco and nicotine products. WHO states that at least 40 million children aged 13–15 currently use tobacco products, and use of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches among young people continues to rise. WHO warns that tobacco and nicotine companies are engineering products to be more appealing, easier to use, and harder to quit, particularly for adolescents.
Key Facts
- At least 40 million children aged 13–15 use tobacco products globally.
- Young people’s use of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches is rising.
- WHO urges governments to ban flavoured products, ban advertising, make indoor public places smoke- and vape-free, and step up enforcement.
- Dr Etienne Krug, Director of the Department of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention at WHO, stated that major tobacco companies are reinventing their business model, pushing flavoured e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches aimed at hooking the next generation.
- Nicotine is highly addictive and harmful for children, adolescents, and young adults whose brains are still developing.
- Nicotine pouches are one of the fastest-growing nicotine products and are being promoted through social media influencers.
- About 160 countries still have no specific regulations for nicotine pouches.
- The city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, intensified enforcement against e-cigarette sales and advertising, carried out inspections, and launched public awareness campaigns.
- On 19 May, WHO awarded leaders from around the world with the 2026 World No Tobacco Day Awards for bold action in tobacco control.
- Tobacco use kills more than 7 million people every year and is linked to cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, and more than 20 types of cancer.
- WHO encourages more than 1 billion tobacco, e-cigarette, and nicotine pouch users to quit on 31 May, World No Tobacco Day.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
The article does not specify which leaders received the 2026 World No Tobacco Day Awards, nor does it detail the number of countries with bans on flavoured products or advertising.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Dr Etienne Krug, Director of the Department of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention at the World Health Organization
Sources: World Health Organization
