Vapedemic in the Philippines? Why Vaping is Just as Dangerous.

“Hindi naman sigarilyo to” 

“Mas healthy daw ito kaysa sigarilyo” 

Are common excuses that the tobacco industry wants young Filipinos to believe.  

The Philippines is in the middle of what health advocates are now calling a "vapedemic," and the numbers are impossible to ignore. The number of Filipino teenagers who vape exploded from just 37,513 in 2021 to 423,185 in 2023.

That’s more than an 11 times the increase in just two years (Manila Bulletin, 2026). Data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey found that 1 in every 7 Filipino students aged 13 to 15 is already using e-cigarettes daily, an age group not even legally allowed to buy these products (GMA News Online, 2024). 

Isn’t Vaping Less Harmful? 

This is the biggest misconception that is driving the use of vapes.  

Seventy percent of Filipino vapers believe vaping is less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes. Vapes were originally marketed as smoking cessation tools, but what most users do not realize is that a single vape pod can contain up to 65 milligrams of nicotine per milliliter, compared to roughly 1 milligram absorbed per cigarette stick.  

That is not a small difference. 

The DOH has warned that vaping is linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and irreversible lung damage — conditions that can develop even in young, previously healthy individuals.

E-cigarette Vaping Use- Associated Lung Injury 

The problem with vaping is that it doesn’t just damage your lungs; it permanently destroys them.  

The DOH has reported cases of “popcorn lungs” wherein the lung tissue becomes permanently scarred, making it harder to breathe over time. There are also reports of lungs turning completely black, as if the person has been smoking for a while.  

And the risk does not stop with the person holding the vape. Secondhand vape exposure carries the same risk and toxic particles that enter the primary user’s lungs. Classrooms, jeepneys, and coffee shops have become unwilling fog chambers for people who never chose to vape at all. 

Paano nga ba na t-target ang mga kabataang Pilipino?  

Sweet flavors like cookies and cream, pistachio, and bubblegum were not created for adult smokers trying to quit. They were created to appeal to young people who have never smoked before. Influencer marketing, music festivals, and social media promotions have made vaping look aspirational and harmless. 

It is also worth noting; the brain develops until around age 25. Meaning nicotine addiction during these years also rewiring how the brain responds to stress and rewards, making it much harder to quit later in life. 

What can you do right now? 

Whether you vape, have a child who might be vaping, or simply want to protect the people around you, the message is simple: stop as soon as you can, and seek help to get there.

Nicotine addiction is real, and quitting is not always easy or realistic for everyone. If you or someone you know is not ready to stop completely yet, start by reducing how often you vape and replacing the habit with healthier alternatives. Physical activity, deep breathing exercises, nicotine replacement therapy like patches or gums, and even just keeping your hands busy can help manage cravings while you work toward fully stopping. 

If you are a parent, start the conversation early and keep it honest. Ask about what they see at school and what they think about vaping. A calm, judgment-free talk will always go further than a lecture. 

The goal is full cessation. Every step toward that goal counts. 

Put #YourHealthFirst Today 💙 

Quitting nicotine is not easy, but you do not have to do it alone. At HealthFirst Clinic, our team can assess your respiratory health, discuss safe and effective cessation options, and support you through every step of the process. 

Book a consultation today. Your lungs will thank you for it. 

📞 (02) 8860 9740 

References 

2Firsts. (2026, February 28). Philippine DOH reiterates: Vaping is not safer than smoking, citing irreversible health risks. https://www.2firsts.com/news/philippine-health-department-continues-to-advise-against-e-cigarettes-citing-irreversible-health-risks-and-evali-cases-reports-say 

GMA News Online. (2024, May 14). Tobacco use down, but vaping up among youth — DOH. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/906768/tobacco-use-down-but-vaping-up-among-youth-doh/story/ 

GMA News Online. (2026, March 6). Health groups back DOH chief's call to ban vape among youth. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/979046/health-groups-back-doh-chief-s-call-to-ban-vape-among-youth/story/ 

Inquirer. (2025, July 3). Smoking, vaping: Crisis worsening among PH youth. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2077989/smoking-vaping-crisis-worsening-among-ph-youth 

Lockton. (2025, February 3). The Philippines' vaping epidemic: Health risks, misconceptions, and legal regulations. https://global.lockton.com/ph/en/news-insights/the-philippines-vaping-epidemic 

Manila Bulletin. (2026, March 16). Senators, health experts alarmed over sharp rise in number of e-cigs, vape users among Filipino youth. https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/16/senators-health-experts-alarmed-over-sharp-rise-in-number-of-e-cigs-vape-users-among-filipino-youth 

Philstar. (2026, March 1). DOH chief wants total vape ban. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/03/01/2511218/doh-chief-wants-total-vape-ban 

Philippine News Agency. (2026, February 27). PH urged to impose total vape ban as 8 ASEAN states adopt prohibition. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1269938 

Rappler. (2026, March 16). DOH, health experts push for total vape ban to protect youth. https://www.rappler.com/philippines/doh-health-experts-proposal-total-vape-ban-protect-youth/ 

Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance [SEATCA]. (2024, January 26). Tougher measures needed to protect PH youth from 'vapedemic'. https://seatca.org/tougher-measures-needed-to-protect-ph-youth-from-vapedemic/ 

Sun Star. (2025, December 1). The vape trap: Youth risk, EVALI, and PH ban push. https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/tell-it-to-sunstar-the-vape-trap-reality 

Sun Star Manila. (2026, March 1). Health group pushes for vape ban. https://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/health-group-pushes-for-vape-ban 

VADAS Philippines. (2026, January 30). Vaping in the Philippines: A statistical overview. https://www.vadas.ph/vaping-in-the-philippines-a-statistical-overview/ 

Zumovape. (2026, May 6). Philippines pushes vape ban as youth use rises. https://zumovape.com/philippines-pushes-vape-ban-as-youth-use-rises/