By Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Chairman Alliance for a Safe Community (IKATAN)
KOTA KINABALU: I am deeply concerned over the increasing prevalence of vaping among school-going children and teenagers in our country.
What was once perceived as a smoking cessation tool for adults has now become a dangerous trend among young people, exposing them to nicotine addiction and other health risks at an early age.
The attractive packaging, appealing flavours, aggressive online marketing, and easy accessibility of vape products have contributed significantly to their growing popularity among students.
More worrying is the emergence of illicit vape products containing dangerous substances, which can have serious consequences on physical and mental health.
Vaping among students should not be viewed merely as a disciplinary issue. It is a public health concern that requires a whole-of-society approach involving parents, schools, health authorities, enforcement agencies, community leaders, and the media.
Several measures should be considered:
1. Strengthening enforcement against the sale of vape products to minors.
2. Conducting regular inspections around schools and educational institutions.
3. Tightening controls on online sales and advertisements targeting young people.
4. Enhancing educational and awareness programmes on the dangers of vaping.
5. Encouraging parents to be more vigilant regarding their children’s activities and peer influences.
6. Providing counselling and support services for students who have already developed nicotine dependence.
Schools should remain vape-free zones, and students found vaping should be guided through counselling and rehabilitation programmes rather than merely being punished.
The future of our nation depends on the health and well-being of our younger generation.
We must act decisively now to prevent vaping from becoming a larger public health crisis among Malaysian youth.
