Increased heated tobacco product users in youth smokers seeking help from quitline

 

Youth Quitline of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is a hotline providing smoking cessation support for smokers aged 14-25 years. HKU researchers observed an alarming increase in HTP use in smokers who sought their services, from 5.7% in 2017 to 37.9% in 2020. Almost all HTP users smoked conventional cigarettes concurrently, and majority used HTPs out of curiosity (46.7%) and peer influence (33.3%) rather than smoking cessation (8.7%). Compared with cigarette smokers who did not use HTPs, those who used HTPs were more likely to perceive that HTPs were healthier (38.9% vs 19.9%) and contained less harmful substances (38.9% vs 20.5%) than conventional cigarettes, and that HTPs could help quitting conventional cigarettes (35.2% vs 14.3%). The findings debunked the cessation claims of HTPs and reflected that the public might underestimate the risks of HTPs due to the misinformation about HTPs.

 

COSH reiterates that alternative smoking products (including HTPs and e-cigarettes) are not recognized tools for smoking cessation. Smokers should quit smoking with appropriate methods. They can call the Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline 1833 183 to seek professional and recognized counseling and assistance to quit. On the other hand, tobacco is the main ingredient of HTPs and is inherently toxic. Research showed that HTP aerosol contains not only toxicants commonly found in conventional cigarette smoke, but also unique harmful substances, such as formaldehyde cyanohydrin. Using HTPs and other forms of smoking also pose detrimental impact on health.

 

To protect public health and nip in the bud, COSH strongly urges the Legislative Council to pass the bill for a total ban on alternative smoking products as soon as possible. The Government should also formulate a timeline for a total ban on smoking to achieve smoke-free Hong Kong.