Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Health Khalid Aït Taleb has sounded the alarm on the rising trend of e-cigarette use among the country’s teenagers.
Responding to a written question posed by the parliamentary member of the Justice and Development Party, Mustapha Ibrahim, Aït Taleb emphasized the urgent need to address this pressing public health concern.
He cited data from a national study conducted in 2021, revealing that teenage girls aged 15 to 17 are the largest demographic of e-cigarette users, with a rate of 5%. Even among boys of the same age group, e-cigarette usage remains significant, standing at 2%.
The study, known as “MEDSPAD,” highlighted the concerning progression of e-cigarette experimentation among Moroccan youth.
Shockingly, nearly 7.7% of students have tried e-cigarettes before the age of ten, with the prevalence increasing dramatically as they grow older.
Ait Taleb noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned about targeted e-cigarette promotion campaigns aimed at children through social media and influencers.
The minister added that scientific research has underlined the harmful effects of e-cigarettes, including their role in increasing cancer risk, heart and lung problems, and impeding brain development in adolescents.
In response to these alarming findings, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection has initiated a comprehensive strategy to combat teenage e-cigarette use, according to Aït Taleb.
He emphasized the integration of prevention measures into the national school and university health program for the period 2022-2030, stressing the importance of mental health support and nicotine addiction prevention.
The ministry plans to bolster the capacity of healthcare professionals through specialized training programs and collaborate with the Ministry of National Education to implement joint action plans for school health.
In addition, a helpline will be established to provide support to young people grappling with psychological and addiction challenges.
“Listening, counseling, and psychological support cells have been established at the level of youth health spaces, totaling 24 spaces, and university medical centers, totaling 36 centers,” the minister explained.
