We have a ready draft bill in which we will ban sachets with synthetic nicotine – announces the Minister of Health, Izabela Leszczyna, on TVN24. This is a response to dangerous substances common on the Polish market that make young people addicted and which create the appearance that they are safer than regular cigarettes. Material from the “Poland and World” magazine. The entire edition is available on TVN24 GO.
Small tobacco pouches are a big unknown for many people. – Snus is odorless nicotine, packed in appropriate bags. Colored, seasoned with flavors and salt – explains psychiatrist Dr. Karolina Grządziel.
The bag goes under the lip and the nicotine enters the bloodstream. In Krakow, teachers of one of the high schools alerted parents that students could buy an addictive product, which is not prohibited.
– This phenomenon of taking nicotine in this way exists among young people. The teacher informed the parents to simply pay attention to it, says Dariusz Nowak, spokesman for the Krakow City Hall.
In March, the Warsaw Sanitary and Epidemiological Station warned that snus are neither a safer nor a healthier alternative to a traditional cigarette. – One bag can contain as much nicotine as a whole pack of cigarettes – points out Marek Waszczewski from the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate. – We must remember that it is the same nicotine that is in a cigarette and it is just as physically and psychologically addictive – he adds.
Dr. Karolina Grządziel emphasizes that the bags are easy to carry to school or to a concert. – They are odorless and invisible – he points out.
The Ministry of Health announces changes to the law
Teachers, not only from Krakow, see a serious threat. The Ministry of Health divides such products into two types: snus, i.e. tobacco sachets, are already prohibited in our country. Those with nicotine are also to disappear from stores.
– We intend that sachets will not be allowed – says Deputy Minister of Health Wojciech Konieczny. – We will amend the law in this regard. We will change the categories of products that are allowed and describe them differently, he announces. This is not the end of the changes. The Ministry of Health promised months ago that it would ban the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. – We have a project, it is already in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, which bans the sale of electronic cigarettes, regardless of whether they are reusable or disposable, without nicotine, to children under 18 years of age – said the Minister of Health in July Izabela Leszczyna.
Disposable e-cigaretteShutterstock
When asked about the progress of work, Wojciech Konieczny emphasizes that the bill will be implemented on Thursday by the standing committee of the Council of Ministers. – We must do everything to protect children and adolescents from exposure to behaviors that may promote addiction in the future – warns Chief Sanitary Inspector Paweł Grzesiowski.
Health education will go to schools
The Ministry of Education joins the fight for the health of young people. From the next school year, a new subject will be introduced in grades 4-8 and in high school – with grades counted towards the average.
– Health education is a subject that will treat human health in a very comprehensive way, both mentally and physically – says Piotr Otrębski, spokesman for the Ministry of National Education.
Data from the sanitary inspectorate show that 80,000 people die every year due to smoking in Poland.
– We are observing a disturbing trend, as tobacco use is increasing. It has been declining over the years. At this point, however, and in the youngest age groups, consumption, consumption, smoking, and absorption in any other way are increasing significantly – points out Marek Waszczewski.
Without an increase in the government's interest in the topic, it will be difficult to reduce the number of smokers.
Main photo source: Shutterstock