O’Higgins health officials launch youth vaping and tobacco prevention

Health authorities in the O’Higgins Region of Chile are intensifying prevention efforts against tobacco and e-cigarette use among students. During an educational session at Colegio El Cobre in Rancagua, Dr. Daniela Zavando, the Regional Ministerial Secretary of Health, presented data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey to students in 7th and 8th grade.

Regional data indicates that 23 out of every 100 students in O’Higgins have smoked cigarettes at least once in their lives, while 31 out of 100 have used electronic cigarettes or vapes. Additionally, approximately 70% of students aged 13 to 15 in the region believe that exposure to secondhand smoke is not harmful to their health. The initiative aims to educate youth on the specific health risks associated with both traditional tobacco and electronic devices.