Brazil addresses rising electronic cigarette use among youth

Health authorities in Brazil are addressing rising trends in tobacco use, specifically the surge in electronic cigarette consumption among adolescents. According to 2024 data from the IBGE National School Health Survey (PeNSE), 38.3% of students aged 13 to 17 in the South region have experimented with vapes or pods, one of the highest rates in the country. Nationally, adolescent experimentation with these devices rose from 16.8% in 2019 to 29.6% in 2024.

Medical professionals warn that many young people are experiencing their first contact with nicotine through electronic devices, often under the false perception that they pose less risk than traditional cigarettes.

In response, the Ministry of Health is launching the “Minha História Sem Filtro” campaign, which will be promoted at the Rock in Rio festival. The initiative invites smokers and former smokers to share personal experiences regarding how tobacco affects their health and social lives. These testimonials may help inform future public policies and the imagery used on cigarette packaging. While adult smoking rates showed a slight increase to 11.7% in 2024, the number of people seeking treatment through the Unified Health System (SUS) has grown significantly, with 2.1 million people seeking help in 2025.