The project was signed by Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán.
Electronic cigarettes and vapes. Referential.
The Council of Bogotá recently approved a project that seeks to regulate the use of vaping devices among young people and minors, which is now awaiting sanction by the city mayor.
The initiative, promoted by councilor Rolando González, aims to stop the growing concern due to the increase in the consumption of these devices among adolescents.
González highlighted that The draft agreement addresses a phenomenon that has grown alarmingly in recent years, especially among young people. He also mentioned that the District entities They will need to work in four key areas:
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Identify and monitor the phenomenon of vaping in Bogotá; carry out educational activities to inform about the risks associated with the use of these devices; design strategies to support those with problematic consumption; and create awareness campaigns to prevent vaping in public spaces.
“In the capital, it has become common to see students between 13 and 17 years old using vapes. According to the School Coexistence Observatory, in 2024, 6,000 reports of substance use were registered in schools, of which 16% corresponded to the use of vaping devices. Furthermore, it was revealed that 76% of the students do it for mere experimentation, 81% participate in recreational activities at school and 83% do so in the company of friends“, said.
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A study by the Colombian Pulmonological Foundation found that 31% of students in Bogotá, between 10 and 17 years old, had tried electronic cigarettes, with 60% of cases starting at the age of 14, and some even starting as young as only 7 years old. González emphasized that This represents a serious public health problem that impacts society as a whole.
“With this project, Bogotá is positioned as a pioneer in the response to the increase in vapingproviding tools to debunk common myths about their use, such as the belief that they are harmless to health,” he said.
Councilor González stressed the need to protect young people from the risks associated with vaping, stating that “it is not a harmless fad, it is a real threat to health.”
