Forum What I Want to Say in 2025: Shield to Protect Students

The rate of students using tobacco doubled.

The forum is a key activity in a series of events towards the Month of Action for Children 2025 and in response to World No Tobacco Day, May 31.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that globally, nearly 37 million children aged 13-15 are using tobacco products, with the rate of e-cigarette use among adolescents surpassing that of adults in many countries.

In Vietnam, according to WHO estimates, tobacco use causes more than 100,000 deaths each year, of which 84,500 people die from diseases related to active smoking and 18,800 people die from diseases related to passive smoking.

Forum What I Want to Say in 2025: Shield to Protect Students Photo 1

Students participate in the second What I Want to Say forum. Photo: REFEREE

The economic loss caused by tobacco is estimated at VND108,000 billion per year (equivalent to 1.14% of GDP). This figure is five times larger than the contribution of tobacco tax revenue to the national budget. WHO warns that nearly half of the world's children are exposed to second-hand smoke, and 65,000 children die each year from smoke-related diseases.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that the rate of 13-15 year old students using e-cigarettes has more than doubled, from 3.5% in 2022 to 8% in 2023.

The Ministry of Health has recorded many cases of students being hospitalized due to poisoning and psychosis related to the use of e-cigarettes, especially products laced with addictive substances.

The Ministry of Health stated that the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco among young people in Vietnam is facing many difficulties and challenges. Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that the rate of 13-15 year old students using e-cigarettes has more than doubled, from 3.5% (2022) to 8% in 2023. The use of new tobacco products among young people is also on the rise.

The increase in the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products among adolescents not only threatens health but also causes serious consequences for the environment. WHO emphasizes that e-cigarettes contain addictive nicotine and toxic substances such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde that can lead to lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, evali disease - a type of lung damage associated with e-cigarettes or e-cigarette products, cardiovascular disease and brain damage, especially in young people in the development stage. Passive smoking affects people around including children and pregnant women and causes respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

The increase in the use of e-cigarettes among teenagers not only harms health and the environment, but also leads to consequences such as reduced productivity in studying and working, and increased negative behaviors due to nicotine addiction. This poses a great threat to the young generation - the pioneering force of the country.

Join hands to build smoke-free schools

In order to raise awareness, equip knowledge and skills to prevent risks from cigarettes, e-cigarettes and new addictive substances in schools, the Forum What I Want to Say 2025 with the theme Say no to cigarettes, e-cigarettes and new addictive substances has the participation of psychologists, doctors, representatives of Nghe An Provincial Police and more than 1,000 students in the province.

In particular, here, students also had the opportunity to interact with singer Ha Myo (Vietnam Music and Dance Theater), Outstanding Young Vietnamese Face of 2022.

The forum consists of two parts: Identifying new generation addictive substances and electronic cigarettes. Here, students, health professionals, educators and authorities will provide updated information on stimulants that are spreading among young people, especially electronic cigarettes with sophisticated camouflage and difficult to control. The content emphasizes the level of popularity, ways to attract students and the potential consequences for physical and mental health.

Part 2 is about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and solutions to create a smoke-free school environment. Doctors and public health experts present scientific information on the effects of traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes and new addictive substances on human health in general and children in particular.

The open discussion is an opportunity to listen to the sharing and recommendations from the students themselves, aiming to promote practical actions from schools, families and society in protecting the younger generation from cigarette smoke and the risks of addiction.

Journalist Phung Cong Suong, Editor-in-Chief of Tien Phong newspaper, affirmed that as the mouthpiece of the Central Youth Union, Tien Phong newspaper always accompanies and supports young people, those who suffer the most from social trauma. After the COVID-19 pandemic, Tien Phong newspaper organized the forum What I Want to Say for the first time to address psychological issues during the days of online learning, not being able to go to school or class, and psychological problems among students.

Bringing positive effects. The second time with that spirit was held in Vinh City, Nghe An with the theme of preventing school violence. This time, with the development trend of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and heated tobacco products, it has posed dangers to the health and psychology of students in their early stages of adulthood.

“With the participation of experts, teachers, and students as the central subjects to talk about the harmful effects and prevention… we hope that through the forum, we will strongly communicate to our readers. From there, they will have the ability to defend themselves, recognize right from wrong, and make the right decisions. When the community is equipped with knowledge, it will be the shield to protect the children themselves,” said journalist Phung Cong Suong.

NGHIEM HUE

Source: https://tienphong.vn/dien-dan-dieu-em-muon-noi-nam-2025-tam-khien-bao-ve-hoc-sinh-sinh-vien-post1741941.tpo