Protecting future generations from the dangers of new tobacco products

With the emergence of increasingly sophisticated new tobacco products, especially e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and hybrid technologies, the need to prevent and combat the harmful effects of tobacco in schools is more urgent than ever. Protecting children and students from the hidden dangers of tobacco is not only the responsibility of the education or health sector, but also requires the cooperation of each family and the whole society.

At Pham Van Hinh Secondary School, Tay Do Commune, tobacco harm prevention work is being implemented synchronously, creating a healthy school environment.

In recent years, the use of e-cigarettes among young people in Vietnam has increased alarmingly. The rate of students aged 13 to 15 using e-cigarettes increased from 3.5% in 2022 to 8.0% in 2023; among young people aged 15 to 24, this rate reached 7.3%. E-cigarette products are infiltrating schools, negatively impacting the behavior, lifestyle and health of students, leading to long-term consequences for health, economy and social order.

According to health experts, one of the reasons for the increase in smoking among students is due to strong impacts from the surrounding environment. Students are easily enticed by friends, want to express themselves, are influenced by study pressure, family circumstances or simply curiosity. Many students think that smoking a few puffs will not cause addiction, leading to frequent use and becoming a habit that is difficult to quit. Access to cigarettes is not difficult when the product is widely sold in cafes, small retail stores or roadside tobacco cabinets. More worryingly, electronic cigarettes are designed more and more sophisticatedly, disguised as lipsticks, pens, cream jars or lighters, making it difficult for teachers and parents to detect. The risk of drug mixing in electronic cigarette solutions continues to be a serious threat to health and school security.

Talking about the harmful effects of tobacco on children, Master Nguyen Van Thanh, Head of the Examination Department, Thanh Hoa Lung Hospital, said: "Tobacco products are all toxic to human health. There is now a lot of evidence showing that e-cigarettes are as harmful as regular cigarettes. Nicotine in e-cigarettes is a strong addictive substance, making children restless and uncomfortable when using it. In particular, nicotine negatively affects brain development in children, causing memory and cognitive impairment. There have been many cases of students being hospitalized in a state of excitement, psychosis, hallucinations or respiratory failure due to poisoning from substances in e-cigarettes. At least 40 diseases have been proven to be related to smoking, including respiratory diseases, pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma or otitis media - diseases that directly affect children's ability to learn and develop".

Faced with this worrying situation, the Thanh Hoa Department of Education and Training has implemented many solutions to protect a clean and healthy educational environment. The Department has directed schools to include tobacco harm prevention content in their annual work plans; integrate tobacco prevention education into subjects such as civic education, biology, and experiential activities. Regulations prohibiting smoking in educational institutions are included in the year-end competition criteria. The Department of Education and Training also coordinates with the health sector to organize a contest to learn about the harmful effects of tobacco, communication sessions, and specialized seminars for students across the province. These activities help students better recognize the dangers of tobacco and new tobacco products.

At Pham Van Hinh Secondary School (Tay Do Commune), the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco has been implemented synchronously and effectively. Mr. Trinh Dinh Thao, the school principal, said: "We have established regulations that strictly prohibit smoking and drinking alcohol on campus. This is an important criterion in the annual evaluation of staff and teachers. The school regularly coordinates with functional forces to organize legal propaganda, including the content of preventing the harmful effects of tobacco. All subjects are integrated with health education, creating a healthy school environment to help students stay away from tobacco. Thanks to drastic measures, the school has effectively maintained a "smoke-free" environment for many years, contributing to shaping a healthy lifestyle and awareness of self-protection for students' health."

To effectively prevent the harmful effects of tobacco and new generation tobacco products, the efforts of the education sector and relevant agencies are very important but not enough. Families and communities must play a key role in guiding, reminding, monitoring and building a healthy lifestyle for children. A safe, smoke-free living and learning environment is a contribution to building a healthy, confident future generation with the capacity to learn, be creative and contribute to society.

Article and photos: To Ha

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/bao-ve-the-he-tuong-lai-nbsp-truoc-nguy-co-san-pham-thuoc-la-moi-270049.htm