The 11th European Conference on Tobacco Control (ECTC 2026) has convened in Istanbul, assembling international public health leaders to address youth nicotine dependency. Organized by the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP) and hosted by the Turkish Green Crescent under the auspices of the Turkish Presidency, the summit targets industry practices aimed at adolescents.
Opening the conference, Turkish Green Crescent President Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Dinç emphasized that corporate profits must never override child welfare.
“Every child deserves to grow up healthy, safe, and free from addictions,” Dinç stated. “No child should be the target of the tobacco industry. No child should be exposed to tobacco smoke, and no child’s future should be endangered for commercial profit.”
Addressing E-Cigarettes and Digital Marketing Tactics
Dinç cautioned that electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco devices represent an ongoing threat. Although often promoted as modern alternatives, these products rely on attractive flavor profiles, sleek designs, and digital promotion to reach younger demographics.
“Products change, marketing methods change,” Dinç noted. “However, the industry’s goal remains the same: creating and maintaining nicotine addiction.”
Conference presentations underscored the biological vulnerability of adolescents. Nicotine exposure during this stage disrupts critical brain and physical development. Highlighting the scale of the challenge, Dinç reported that approximately 63% of patients receiving assistance from Green Crescent Counseling Centers (YEDAM) started using tobacco products before turning 18.
Strategic Pillars for Global Tobacco Control
To curb the uptake of novel nicotine products among minors, conference leaders identified five operational priorities:
- Stronger regulatory controls over physical and online sales channels
- Targeted early-age educational and prevention initiatives
- Expanded cessation support programs for affected youth
- Independent scientific research into developing delivery systems
- Coordinated cross-border regulatory enforcement
Running through November 6, the event features contributions from Prof. Dr. Cevdet Erdöl, Founding Rector of the University of Health Sciences, ENSP President Prof. Panagiotis Behrakis, WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Secretariat Head Andrew Black, and UNICEF Turkey Representative Paolo Marchi.
