Primary school pupils holding up flyers with the message of saying no to nicotine, after attending an awareness programme by CAP.
HANDS went up when the boys and girls of a primary school in Penang were asked if anyone in their family smoked e-cigarettes or vaped (inhaling the vapour produced by an e-cigarette or vaporiser).
One 11-year-old boy admitted that his father let him try vaping once, drawing shocked gasps from the 280 pupils who were attending the Consumers Association of Penang’s (CAP) No-Nicotine for Kids awareness programme on smoking, vaping and the use of e-cigarettes.
The boy, however, assured his schoolmates and CAP education officer NV Subbarow that he never touched the vape after that incident because he realised the dangers of vaping and smoking.
Two girls also admitted that their fathers had allowed them to try vaping once but they did not like it.
A few other children said they knew that e-cigarettes and vape could be bought online.
Subbarow explained to the children that they should never try smoking, e-cigarettes and vaping because it contained “poison”, which was nicotine in the form of vape liquid juices.
He also reminded them to advise their fathers, brothers, uncles or any visitors who come to their house not to smoke or vape inside the house but instead to do so outside.
“A significant number of children, aged between nine and 12, have admitted that they don’t buy any vape or e-cigarette gadgets but were lured to taste the vape liquid juices by their fathers or brothers.
“Their fathers and brothers will assure the children that there’s no need to worry as it is just fruit juice.
“But this is a serious error because in fact, the juice contains nicotine,” he said.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are 16,000 types of vape flavours in the market that contain health-impacting chemicals.
Subbarow said some children vaped at home when their parents were not around.
“Because the juice smells of fruits, many of them believe that the juice is made of actual fruits or sweets,” he said.
He also said CAP strongly felt that the action of fathers and brothers offering young children a vape to smoke, was an offence.
“Children as young as eight are putting their health at risk by vaping. The sweet-flavoured colourful sticks are appealing to them.
“Vape cartridges have names and flavours that make them seem like candy, such as mint chocolate, mango and frozen lime drop,” said Subbarow.
He said that during the awareness programmes at the schools, including secondary schools, girls were also found to be attracted to the vaping culture.
“Out of four children addicted to vaping, one is a girl. In secondary schools, the ratio is 6:2 for female students,” he said.
He urged more school administrations to allow NGOs such as CAP to meet and talk with pupils and students about the dangers of smoking, vaping, e-cigarettes and nicotine-containing juices.
“CAP is worried that if no urgent action is taken, more children and secondary school students will become addicted to vaping, and their health and future will be jeopardised,” he said.
