Children and Vulnerability to Tobacco: Emerging Issues in Asia

This article focuses on issues regarding the vulnerability of children to tobacco addiction, ways in which Asia’s children are rendered more vulnerable by tobacco industry activity, and new challenges this is presenting in the region. More specifically, this article highlights how the tobacco industry is using social influences in emerging Asian markets to encourage young children, particularly girls, to initiate smoking. Thus there are multiple factors that contribute to the vulnerability of children in Asia to tobacco addiction, which in turn puts an ethical duty on others, particularly governments, to develop more efficient tobacco control movements in Asian countries.