Indonesian Youth Hooked on Vaping Face Serious Health Threats

Jakarta - BPOM has stressed that Indonesia is currently facing a serious challenge in the form of a rising number of young smokers. According to BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar, the increasing trend of electronic cigarette use among teenagers must become a shared concern because it is often promoted with misleading narratives. “Behind the modern image and lifestyle trend built by the electronic cigarette or vape industry, there is a serious threat to the health and future of Indonesia’s young generation. Vape is not just a trend. Vape is a real threat to the health, safety, and future of the young generation,” Taruna stressed in a written statement on Sunday (12/7/2026). Taruna explained that the prevalence of children and adolescents aged 10-18 years who actively smoke has reached 7.4%, equivalent to more than 5 million children in Indonesia. Meanwhile, the use of electronic cigarettes in the teenage age group has also experienced a significant increase in recent years. This condition shows that the young generation is a group vulnerable to exposure to promotions and marketing strategies of the tobacco product industry. Taruna also reminded students to have good health literacy skills amidst the rapid flow of digital information. He outlined how the promotion of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes is now increasingly massive through social media by utilising influencers, entertainment content, and trends close to the lives of young people. “Do not immediately believe claims that say electronic cigarettes are safe, not dangerous, or just a lifestyle. Use social media positively. Let us think critically and be wiser in making decisions that can save our lives,” he advised. Taruna then invited all students to become a generation that is healthy, critical, and brave in taking a stand against various health threats. “Say no to cigarettes, vape, and drugs. Take care of your body, take care of your future, and take care of your friends from habits that can harm health. The young generation is the successor of the nation and the future leaders of Golden Indonesia 2045. Indonesia’s future is determined by a generation that is healthy, productive, intelligent, and free from dependence on addictive substances,” he concluded. BPOM is encouraging the young generation to understand the dangers of both conventional and electronic cigarettes, as well as to become agents of change in efforts to control tobacco products and prevent the abuse of hazardous substances.