SHAH ALAM - Users of electronic cigarettes or vapes face health risks that can be fatal due to the excessive intake of substances contained in these devices.
Public Health Medicine Specialist Dr Safiya Amaran, said there were various types of flavouring substances on the market that were thought to be harmless, but studies clearly showed that vape liquids could kill lung, liver, brain and skin cells.
She said teenage users, in particular, find it difficult to identify the dosage of substances contained in the devices they use.
This was compounded by the daring actions of some who combine them with other illicit substances such as alcohol and drugs, further increasing the risk of adverse physical and mental effects.
"Nicotine as low as two milligrams (mg) can already cause stomach and intestinal disturbances, while higher doses can cause more severe effects, such as seizures and respiratory failure.
"Nicotine at levels of 50-60 mg can cause death in adults weighing 70 kilograms (kg). This is even more dangerous for children and teenagers.
"Many do not know that the nicotine content in electronic cigarettes (0-36mg) can be higher compared to tobacco cigarettes (10-12mg)," she said.
She was commenting on the adverse effects of uncontrolled vape usage following the case of a form four student in Kemaman who experienced seizures and lost consciousness, believed to be after taking 'magic mushrooms'.
She added that the mushroom flavour itself comes from species of mushrooms in the Genus Psilocybe, which contain the active ingredient psilocybin, a very potent hallucinogen.
She sais that when psilocybin was consumed, the body converts it into another substance, psilocin, which activates serotonin receptors in the brain, particularly in areas that control mood, cognition and perception.
"Because vaping provides rapid access, it allows psilocybin to enter the respiratory system, potentially leading to overdoses that can be dangerous or even fatal.
"This is common, especially among users who are not accustomed to the precise doses of psilocybin," she said.
Therefore, she stressed that the government needs to tighten the regulation of vape sales systems in the country, including monitoring the contents of vape liquids, as stipulated in the Smoking Products Control for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852).
"Hopefully, its implementation will begin on Aug 1, 2024, as planned and will not be postponed again.
"The enforcement of this act needs to be given special attention by the government and executed strategically involving various relevant agencies, not just the Health Ministry, to ensure it is effective and efficient.
"Many believe vaping is safer than tobacco cigarettes, but the data clearly shows otherwise.
"Data in the United States (US) indicates that the number of deaths and hospitalisations due to vaping is increasing every year. Patients not only suffer from severe lung injuries but also serious liver function problems," she said.