The increase in the use of tobacco, electronic cigarettes and nicotine products among young people in Kosovo is considered more and more worrying, while on the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day, organizations operating in this field are calling for urgent action.

The Alliance for a Tobacco-Free Future and Nicotine has published a communique raising the alarm about the growing trend of the use of these products among children and teenagers.

“According to the data of GYTS 2025, 23.5% of students aged 13-15 currently use tobacco products, while 11.2% currently smoke cigarettes. The trend shows an alarming increase compared to previous years, with a special impact from electronic cigarettes and new nicotine products,” the communique says. children and young people, including banning the sale of cigarettes, vapes and nicotine products near schools, stricter enforcement of the law and continuing education in schools,” the response emphasized.

These concerns come on World No Tobacco Day, which is marked every year on May 31 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners around the world.

The purpose of this day is to raise awareness of the dangers that leads to the use of tobacco and the promotion of effective policies to reduce its consumption. This year, the global campaign takes place under the motto “Pledge and quit”, focusing on supporting people who want to quit smoking.

WHO recalls that smoking remains one of the main risk factors for non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes. According to the organization, the benefits of quitting smoking start almost immediately, as heart rate, blood oxygen levels and lung function improve.

Also, the WHO points out that smokers are much more likely to quit smoking successfully when they receive professional support and counseling from health workers.

Globally, around 39 percent of men and 9 percent of women are smokers, while Europe continues to record the highest rates of tobacco consumption. In this context, health organizations estimate that the protection of young people from tobacco and nicotine products should be a priority of institutions and society as a whole.

Source: prizrenpost