Blowing smoke, tying up the future - Lang Son Newspaper and Radio and Television Station

- Tobacco is silently threatening public health, especially that of young people. With the theme of 2025 “Exposing the false appeal”, WHO calls for protecting children from the harmful effects of tobacco (THCTL). In recent years, all levels and functional sectors in the province have been implementing many measures to control this danger.

Students of Viet Bac High School ( Lang Son city) listen to propaganda about preventing the harmful effects of tobacco.

Like other localities, in Lang Son, the use of tobacco, especially electronic cigarettes, is still smoldering and worrying. On social networks, many students are being drawn into the trend of using electronic cigarettes with eye-catching products, advertised as “less toxic”, “helping to quit smoking”, but in fact, they pose a high risk of addiction and serious lung damage.

Dr. Nguyen Son Hieu, Deputy Director of Lang Son Lung Hospital, said: Among patients with chronic lung disease receiving inpatient treatment at the hospital, about 70% have the habit of smoking. In particular, with electronic cigarettes, we have noted a trend of younger patients. From a public health perspective, new generation cigarettes are not a solution to quit smoking. On the contrary, it makes the treatment of tobacco-related diseases more complicated and prolonged.

Although there are no statistics on the number of students smoking e-cigarettes in the province, according to records from the authorities, from 2022 to present, medical facilities in the area have received 5 cases of students hospitalized due to nicotine poisoning after smoking e-cigarettes.

According to the 2025 Tobacco Control Plan, Lang Son province aims for over 95% of people to be aware of the harmful effects, over 75% to understand the Tobacco Control Law, and 100% of schools, medical facilities, buses, and administrative agencies to have regulations prohibiting smoking.

To prevent and combat tobacco use, local authorities from the province to the grassroots have proactively implemented many practical measures. Mr. Hoang Duy Thien, Head of the Department of Medical and Pharmaceutical Affairs, Department of Health said: Every year, the department proposes that the department's leaders advise the Provincial Steering Committee for Tobacco Use Prevention and Control to establish an interdisciplinary inspection team to implement the Law on Tobacco Use Prevention and Control, and strictly handle acts of trading, advertising and using tobacco. At the same time, coordinate with departments, branches, districts and cities to organize training courses and direct propaganda at schools, agencies, communities, and on mass media to raise awareness of tobacco use.

From 2024 to present, the whole province has organized 752 direct propaganda sessions, distributed over 18,000 leaflets, billboards, and posters on tobacco harm prevention in communities, schools, agencies, and businesses. The communication campaigns focused on tobacco harm prevention and health, measures to quit smoking, etc. and emphasized the 2025 theme launched by the World Health Organization "Exposing the false appeal" to peel off the glossy shell that the tobacco industry built to cover up health hazards.

On the school side, the “Smoke-free school” model continues to be implemented in 100% of general education institutions. 100% of schools post regulations prohibiting smoking in schools and include this content in the evaluation of emulation for teachers, staff and student conduct. On average, each year, schools in the province organize over 500 propaganda sessions integrated into class activities with over 100,000 teachers and students participating; organize for over 17,000 cadres, teachers, staff and over 70,000 students from junior high school to vocational school to sign a commitment not to smoke in schools.

HTH, 17 years old, a student at Viet Bac High School, Lang Son City, confided: I started smoking e-cigarettes since grade 10 because my friends invited me to. I found the smell nice and attractive, and I got addicted without realizing it. After listening to propaganda at school, watching TV, and reading newspapers, I realized that it is not only addictive but also has a great impact on the lungs and nervous system, so I decided to quit smoking.

Along with propaganda, the authorities have increased inspections of tobacco businesses to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm. From 2024 to present, the authorities have detected and handled 13 violations related to tobacco trading, seizing more than 4,000 packs of cigarettes, 600 electronic cigarette machines, 126,000 electronic cigarette burners, 2,150 boxes of electronic cigarette oil, more than 3,900 kg of dried tobacco, tobacco plants... of unknown origin, smuggled.

In order to combat the “false appeal” of tobacco, in addition to the determination of the authorities, the participation of families, schools and communities is also needed. Each citizen needs to be proactive and join in building a smoke-free environment, protecting the health and future of the younger generation.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/nha-khoi-troi-tuong-lai-5048195.html