Think Change Forum (TCF) survey highlights the lack of awareness about vaping dangers among Indian adolescents
Globally, health organizations and governments have raised concerns about the growing trend of vaping among teenagers. In a study by the American Lung Association, vaping was reported to have potentially serious health consequences, including lung disease and even death. However, in India, a significant portion of the youth population remains unaware of these dangers, as revealed by a recent survey conducted by the Think Change Forum (TCF).
The study, part of TCF’s initiative “Ideas for an Addiction-Free India”, spanned across several metro cities, surveying students aged 14 to 17. What it revealed was a shocking truth: 89% of the respondents were oblivious to the harmful effects of vaping, exposing a critical information gap among India’s adolescent population.
The concerning perception of vaping as a harmless or merely “moderately harmful” pastime among 52% and 37% of the surveyed students respectively, highlights the urgency to dispel the misconceptions around vaping. This perspective, unfortunately, echoes a trend seen in a US report from Truth Initiative, which found a similar lack of awareness among American youth.
Sushant Kalra, a renowned Parenting Coach & TEDx Speaker, voiced his concerns on the findings, stating, “It’s alarming to see the degree of ignorance regarding vaping amongst our children. We need to engage educators and parents in a dialogue about the harmful effects of vaping, and it needs to happen now.”
