04/03/2026
Public Statement on Va**ng and Public Health
- Dr. Tony Leachon
As a physician and advocate for public safety, I feel compelled to raise a quiet but urgent concern. The rise of eโcigarettes in our communitiesโmarketed with sweet, candyโlike flavors and promoted as โharm reductionโโis in truth a pathway to ni****ne addiction among the youth. What is being normalized today may become tomorrowโs epidemic of chronic disease.
Health experts have long warned that v**e liquids and aerosols are toxic, irritating the airways and damaging lung tissue. These products contribute to the growing burden of noncommunicable diseasesโcancer, cardiovascular illness, and chronic respiratory conditionsโthat already strain our healthcare system and consume substantial government resources.
What makes this more troubling is the weakness of regulatory agencies, which have allowed deceptive marketing and loopholes to flourish. In effect, we are poisoning Filipinos, especially the next generation, while other ASEAN countries have already acted decisively with bans.
This is not about politics or noise. It is about protecting our children, safeguarding public health, and preventing another wave of preventable disease. With humility and hope, I urge our leaders to listen to the science, heed the warnings of medical organizations, and take firm action to ban v**es. The health of our youthโand the future of our nationโdepends on it.
