Ministry of Health takes action on the dangers of smoking and e-cigarettes

The Ministry of Health, Environment, Culture and Housing takes action on smoking and health as tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature deaths.

As commitments are set to promote a smoke-free Cayman Islands, the Ministry of Health continues to drive the message that smoking is unquestionably injurious to health, and offers support to anyone who is trying to give up this life-limiting habit.

Given the recent news on multiple persons developing lung damage and the number of deaths after vaping in the United States of America, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Ministry of Health is taking very seriously the concerns and risks that electronic nicotine delivery systems (most commonly known as vapes and e-cigarettes) have on health.

In view of this, the Ministry of Health is reviewing current legislation to protect members of the public from the potential fatal effects that have been seen in other jurisdictions, and to implement intervention measures into the use of e-cigarettes by children, including adolescents.

While the legislation is being reviewed locally, the Ministry of Health advises all vape and e-cigarette users, if they do not intend to stop smoking, to at least consider switching to non-flavoured nicotine “e-liquids”, or to a flavoured variety that has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in the United Kingdom.

Additionally, the Ministry of Health advises that children, including adolescents, should always be strongly discouraged from any use of nicotine in any form due to its highly addictive nature.

"The safeguarding of our children and adolescents is paramount to our future, and we must take steps to protect them from the use of an addictive chemical compound; please join me and the Ministry of Health to discourage the use of e-cigarettes and smoking at every opportunity,” says Minister of Health, Hon Dwayne Seymour, JP.