The National Council on Drug Abuse has called for intensified monitoring of the tobacco industry, following a recent assessment which revealed increasing use of vaping devices, among Jamaican youths.

In reacting to the report, Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton expressed concern after the findings revealed that 15% of adolescents between ages 13 and 15 years use e-cigarettes, while 80% of those who have used tobacco, started before age 14.

Speaking at the World No Tobacco Day Youth Forum, he said people often market the so-called ‘fun’ flavours of e-cigarettes, as a safe alternative to smoking, but this is not true.