Electronic cigarettes, or vapes, are rapidly spreading among schoolchildren and university students, despite serious health risks. According to the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the number of young vape users has increased significantly in recent years. Experts from the WHO and CDC emphasize: no form of nicotine is safe — especially for a developing body.
The human body (up to the age of 25) is in an active stage of development. Nicotine and other substances have a particularly strong impact on the nervous system, cognitive function, and emotional well-being. Kazakhstan has seen a rise in the number of students and schoolchildren seeking medical help for respiratory issues, anxiety, and sleep disturbances — often associated with regular vaping.
Vapes are devices classified as electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). During use, the built-in heating element vaporizes a liquid, creating an aerosol that is inhaled. Vape liquids may contain nicotine or be nicotine-free. Unlike traditional cigarettes, vapes do not contain tobacco but do include propylene glycol, glycerin, flavorings, and various chemical additives.
The World Health Organization highlights that vaping contributes to the development of strong nicotine dependence and increases the likelihood of transitioning to traditional cigarettes by 2–3 times among adolescents.
“Many mistakenly view vaping as a ‘good company’ habit, unaware of the risks. Meanwhile, research and physicians are sounding the alarm: additives in vape liquids (fruit, berry, menthol flavors) create dense aerosol that damages the bronchial epithelium and leads to tissue oxygen deprivation. These vapes generate highly concentrated aerosols capable of causing hypoxia and damaging the respiratory tract. As future doctors, we must not only be aware of this but also learn to recognize the effects of vaping in our patients — and ourselves. Increased fatigue, coughing, sleep problems, and anxiety are warning signs that should not be ignored,” says Karlygash Suyindik, Research Fellow at the Dalenov Institute of Preventive Medicine, General Practitioner.
It should be noted that as of April 2024, Kazakhstan has enacted a full ban on the sale and advertising of vapes. Despite aggressive industry marketing, the facts are clear: vaping contains toxins and causes addiction — it does not “help quit smoking.”
We strongly urge parents, educators, and adolescents to reflect on the real cost of “smoke-free vapor” and do everything possible to support prevention. Only through collective efforts can we stop a new wave of nicotine addiction among youth.
