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This photograph taken on May 30, 2023 show an individual vaping an electronic cigarette in Paris. Joel Saget, AFP

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Vaping

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171575628608720230530-vaping-paris-AFP.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>This photograph taken on May 30, 2023 show an individual vaping an electronic cigarette in Paris. Joel Saget, AFPBANGKOK, Thailand — While tobacco use has seen a decline in the Philippines, the use of its electronic counterpart particularly among the youth is on the rise, according to the Department of Health.</div>Data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey show that from over 1.3 million young individuals aged 13 to 15 years old in 2007, the number has decreased by 10 percent or just over 800,000 in 2019. The same data also reveals that in 2015, close to 740,000 or at least 1 out of every 10 Filipinos aged 13-15 have tried using electronic cigarettes at least once. Just four years later, the figure more than doubled to almost 1.6 million.In a regional conference of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) in Bangkok, Thailand, various health officials, advocates and youth representatives gathered with the aim of discussing concrete action plants to protect children from tobacco industry interference.Dr. Jos Vandelaer, WHO’s Representative to Thailand, called tobacco addiction as an epidemic, “with no end in sight.”“Tobacco kills. Can it be any clearer? Can it be anymore direct?” he said.Vandelear stressed that at a time when more and more of the youth are enticed into engaging in unhealthy behavior, the same group has to “call on their governments to craft policies that shield them from the dangers of tobacco use.”<div>COPING MECHANISM? </div>Department of Education Assistant Secretary Dexter Galban admitted that e-cigarettes and vapes are a growing concern for Filipino learners. Aside from posing serious dangers to one’s health, developing a dependence on such products also has negative effects on finances.“That has always been the approach of the industry to convert them into replacement smokers because they can provide substantial profits for a longer period of time,” he said.The DepEd, Galban added, has always had a firm stand where young learners “should have absolutely no connection when it comes to products and vapes.”However, this is unfortunately not the case as it has been guised and dubbed as a “coping mechanism&quot;, he said.“Whenever they would feel stressed, whenever they would need that additional relief from the stresses they experience whether it’s because of school or family or community, they turn to these products,” Galban said.Whether used casually or as a coping mechanism, vaping creates a “norming effect” that can make it difficult for young individuals to dissociate from the habit, the assistant secretary said.“Our goal is that to make them understand that healthier coping mechanisms. There are people they can talk to, activities they can engage in. We even went to the extent of creating after school activities, clubs in schools.”<div>TAKING CHARGE</div>At a time when the youth have become the most viable targets of tobacco companies, Vandelaer said it becomes even more important for them to take charge to prevent more people from being lured into the habit.“Young people must be leading the charge in calling out the tobacco industry for its manipulative and deceptive tactics, and in revealing the true and devastating impact that the industry has on health, social justice, and the environment,&quot; he said. &quot;Young people have a voice. Make it heard!”In the Philippines, learners are given the responsibility to act as watchdogs against the entry of tobacco and vape products which are part of existing policies.“Right now, DepEd has a complete ban on e-cigs and tobacco in all schools and all DepEd facilities. However, there are incidents where that is not fully implemented. Our youth watchdogs are also there to ensure that this is being implemented,” Galban said.Aside from student councils, health organizations are also avenues where information about the harms of vape products can emanate.“We’re hoping that this would be sufficient so that by the time they’re actually allowed to purchase and use them, they would actually choose not to.”Galban also urged influencers--whom he said a lot of the youth turn to or trust more--to be responsible.This, after videos on social media showed influencers and even celebrities using such products — some even flaunting it as a form of talent by exhaling perfect circles of smoke.“At the end of the day this is about social behavioral change and that doesn’t happen overnight. So if they are bombarded by these products and it becomes part of the norm, it’s going to be inherent to them that these things are ok when in fact they are not,” he said.

While tobacco use has seen a slight decline in the Philippines, the use of its electronic counterpart particularly among the youth is on the rise, according to the Department of Health.

While tobacco use has seen a slight decline in the Philippines, the use of its electronic counterpart particularly among the youth is on the rise, according to the Department of Health.

Youth urged to get involved in fight vs. e-cigarettes, vapes

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Youth urged to get involved in fight vs. e-cigarettes, vapes

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 15, 2024 12:32 AM PHT

|

Updated May 15, 2024 03:01 PM PHT

Read More:

e-cigarettes

vapes

DepEd

Department of Education

Global Youth Tobacco Survey

tobacco

SEATCA

Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance

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