Letter: What about cigarettes?

Dear Editor,

I applaud the government’s stance on banning the import and sale of vapes in Guyana, Nicotine addiction has long been a challenge for many nations to overcome. But banning vapes does not entirely solve the issue.

Ciagrettes are still more dangerous than vaping. Burning tobacco releases over 7,000 chemicals, including hundreds of toxic substances and at least 70 known carcinogens, plus the deadly carbon monoxide, it causes hundreds of thousands of deaths each year, leading directly to the vast majority of lung cancer cases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, and severe heart disease, vaping exposes users to fewer total toxins and lacks carbon monoxide and tar because there is no combustion. Aerosol from e-cigarettes, however, still delivers nicotine, heavy metals (like nickel, lead, and cadmium), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and flavoring chemicals like diacetyl.

Vaping causes lung inflammation raises heart rate and blood pressure and is linked to severe conditions like EVALI (often tied to THC and vitamin E acetate) and potential long-term cardiovascular damage, E-cigarettes and modern disposables can deliver high amounts of nicotine very smoothly, leading to intense addiction.

We can all agree that both cigarettes and disposable vapes poses serious risks for human health, so why not ban the sale of cigarettes as well? Or imposing higher tariffs on its importation to reduce local consumption? The argument of banning vapes alone does not solve the wider problem of nicotine addiction and with vapes now out of the picture younger generation that are already nicotine addicted may switch to alternatives like cigarettes to experience the same effects, the local guyanese markets are flooded with options that range from mint to strawberry double click cigarettes, the price for contraband cigarettes sold are far cheaper than vapes and there is no adherence to restrictions on how it is being sold.

Studies from organizations like the University of Bristol and Yorkshire Cancer Research indicate that a portion of young vape users (roughly 14% to 18% in specific regional or demographic surveys) may transition to traditional cigarettes or dual-use habits when disposable vapes are prohibited. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) When disposable vapes are removed or priced out, some users face a choice between withdrawal, buying expensive reusable starter kits, or opting for cheaper, more accessible packs of conventional cigarettes.
The other major concern for the Guyanese Government is the “Black-Market Growth” for vapes; how will they tackle this? Because contraband items are still being sold in supermarkets and other retail/ wholesale vendors, who’s to say they won’t start selling vapes “Under the table”?

Kind Regards,
Dev Harry