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Some of the latest e-cig and vape devices are
cheap, as small as your thumb and can even be worn as a watch. Tobacco
control experts say awareness among parents and teachers are crucial in
keeping this new addiction out of schools.
LET’S be clear – e-cigs and vape (ECV) are electronic drug delivery
devices that can be used with the likes of meth and marijuana, warns
Universiti Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences (UMCAS) chief coordinator
and the varsity’s Nicotine Addiction Research & Collaboration Group
(NARCC) coordinator, Assoc Prof Dr Amer Siddiq Amer Nordin.
The smoking cessation specialist says there’s a chance that students using ECV will be exposed to other drugs.
“And it’s likely they’ll face the same problems – like poor grades – as students who smoke.”
Dr Amer Siddiq was commenting on findings published in the July edition of the Journal of Criminal Justice.
‘It’s all the rage! Exploring the nuances in the link between vaping and
adolescent delinquency’ suggests that there may be something
“criminogenic about vaping among adolescents”. But the strength of the
relationship between vaping and delinquency depends on what is being
vaped, with marijuana vaping being most heavily correlated with
delinquency.
Dr Nur Amani@Natasha Ahmad Tajuddin, the lead of the NARCC smoking
prevention programme in schools, says when the use of ECV is related to
crimes like theft, violence, fighting, bullying, and running away from
home, more effort is needed to curb the habit.
“Parents must realise that ECV has negative health, mental, economic and academic impact on youths.”
Young at risk.
Four years ago, ECV use among students was less than 3% because the
devices were too pricey for most teenagers, Assoc Prof Dr Anne Yee
notes..
According to the Tobacco and E-cigarette Survey among Malaysian
Adolescents 2016 (Tecma), a whopping 36.9% of students start on the
devices between the ages of 14 and 15, and now, we’re seeing a spike in
teenage use..
Easily passed-off as a smart watch, thumb drive or pen, the eye-catching
devices look like the latest fashion accessories, says the addiction
psychiatry expert and UMCAS member..
“Sellers are going all out to push the product to teens by making it cheaper and more accessible..
“Many even give it free to attract young customers. Drug pushers use the
same tactic to get people hooked so that they keep coming back.”.
These days, huge, eye-catching banners adorn night markets with traders
openly displaying their wares. Clearly, the colourful e-liquid bottles
with fancy names were designed for kids, teenagers and women, she says.
These are groups that may never smoke yet we’re turning them into ECV
users..
“If sellers are targeting adult smokers who want to quit, they wouldn’t need gimmicks. Why make such fancy designs?”.
Dr Nur Amani says a recent study reported that 22% of children aged
between 11 and 15 in England, use ECV compared to 18% who start
smoking..
“This is because ECV ads are appealing. Here we have celebrities promoting ECV on social media to entice kids.”.
Dr Amer Siddiq says more needs to be done to prevent a new generation of nicotine addicts from emerging..
“ECV isn’t safe. The devices could burn and the e-liquids could be adulterated.”.
While studies have shown that children and adolescents see ECV as cool,
pleasurable and fun to use, Dr Nur Amani says there’s a pattern of kids
from lower socio-economic income groups being targeted by unscrupulous
sellers..
Getting the girls.
National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Harry
Tan says teachers nationwide are noticing a rise in ECV use among
girls..
“This is scary because with cigarettes, it was mostly just the boys. But these devices are popular among both boys and girls.”.
Dr Yee is worried because nicotine is being touted as a way to lose weight. It’s like what drug pushers tell women about meth..
As it is, more young girls are experimenting with e-cigs as compared to cigarettes..
Cute cartoon packaging and fruity flavours are aimed at female non-smokers.
Society still has a negative perception of women who smoke. But with
ECV, the message is that even ‘‘good girls’’ use it because it’s
fashionable and can help you lose weight, adds Dr Yee.
In December last year, The Star highlighted how ECV and e-liquids were promoted as weight management aids.
“Even e-liquids that claim to be nicotine-free contain the drug. And
you’ll never know for sure how much nicotine is inside. It could be
equal to 20 cigarettes.
“A nicotine high lasts for less than two hours before the craving
starts. So getting youngsters hooked on ECV is a business tactic, ”
explains Dr Yee.
If your kids are turning to cigarettes, ECV or drugs, it could be
because they’re bored or have no one to turn to, she says, adding that
children who feel a sense of belonging in the family don’t need these
harmful distractions.
Easily addicted
Dr Yee says teenagers are much more susceptible to addiction compared to
adults. Some even start to have nicotine cravings after just one try.
“The teenage brain has yet to mature. That’s why adolescents are more
impulsive, emotional and susceptible to advertisements aimed at
influencing their behaviour.”
Parents whose children are already smoking aren’t helping by getting
them an ECV. While it’s better than a tobacco cigarette, ECV is harmful
for non-smokers.
When inhaled, tiny chemical particles in the e-liquids can enter the bloodstream and cause long-term harm.
Those between the ages of 10 and 18, adds Dr Nur Amani, are especially vulnerable to addiction.
The medical doctor says e-liquids contain toxic materials like lead,
arsenic, manganese and chromium. Exposure to even small amounts can
worsen symptoms of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
ECV use among varsity students is also worrying, says Dr Amer Siddiq,
who was among the researches behind The use of e-cigarettes among
university students in Malaysia journal paper published in December.
The study, funded by the Education Ministry, involved 1, 302 students in six Malaysian varsities.
“Over 40% of students smoke and use ECV. This means that ECV has not
helped them quit smoking, ” he says, adding that some users even
experienced adverse effects like dizziness, coughs and headaches.
Anti-vape campaign
The Education Ministry recently announced that it would intensify
awareness campaigns after claims of ECV being freely distributed among
students, and photos of youths vaping, went viral.
Calling on parents and society to stop students from bringing the
devices to schools, the ministry’s director-general Datuk Dr Amin Senin
notes that ECV has become the norm these days – becoming more
sophisticated and difficult to distinguish from other electronic
gadgets.
Welcoming the ministry’s move, Dr Nur Amani feels it’s important to get tobacco cessation experts onboard to work with teachers.
More awareness campaigns need to be conducted by health scientists,
educationists, politicians and non-governmental organisations, to show
that ECV use is not “normal behaviour”.
Group activities, instead of talks, work better to impart knowledge. And, it’s more sustainable.
“The children themselves can then act as ‘peer experts’. The impact is
greater when the message is shared by those of the same age group.”
Campaigns can be effective if we target parents and teachers, says Dr Yee.
With children and adolescents, the more you say no, the more they will
want to try it, she says, adding that parents shouldn’t over-react if
they find their child smoking, using ECV or taking drugs.
“It’s not the end of the world. Be an ally to your children instead of acting like the police.”
She suggests talking to children about the dangers out there instead of sweeping things under the carpet.
“Make them realise that sellers only want to make money by getting
youths hooked on an addictive habit whether it’s nicotine or drugs.”
The Health and Education Ministries are already working together on the
Kotak (Kesihatan Oral Tanpa Asap Rokok) programme to highlight the harms
of cigarettes and its related products, says Dr Amer Siddiq.
But with the introduction of newer ECV models, there’s a need to raise awareness among the adults
Citing some pod-and-USB-like devices as examples, he says these have
very high nicotine content but most parents and teachers don’t know
about them.
Recently, children were mimicking vaping because of what they see on
social media, Dr Amer Siddiq says in reference to the crackdown on Ghost
Smoke – a candy consumed by sucking on a straw to produce a vapour-like
effect.
“The Kotak programme must be enhanced to cover ECV and its dangers especially the impact on young developing brains.”
NUTP’s Tan says most teachers are in a cocoon when it comes to ECV.
“We need to expose teachers to this new threat so that they know what to look out for.
“And teachers must be given more authority. Since we cannot cane and are
vulnerable to lawsuits, we want legislation that compels parents of
problematic students to come to school and be responsible for their
kids’ behaviour.”
UM, says Dr Nur Amani, has been conducting educational and advocacy
programmes in schools through its No-Cotine Club and Community and
Sustainability Centre (UMCARES).
Trained students go to colleges and schools to carry out activities that de-normalise smoking and vaping, she says.
“Soon we’ll be approaching 80 partner schools to tell our children that EVC is not just ‘evaporated water’.
“The effects are harmful and it’s haram for Muslims. Hopefully when they go home, they’ll share the message with their parents.”
Smoking and IR 4.0
ECV will be among the hot topics at the upcoming KL Nicotine Addiction
International Conference (KLNAC) 2020, says its organising chairman Dr
Amer Siddiq.
As the country moves towards realising the National Strategic Plan to
make Malaysia smoke-free by 2045, it’s crucial to look at all forms of
technology that can prevent the uptake of cigarettes, he says.
“We’ve decided on the theme ‘Mission IR 4.0: Redesign Tobacco Control’
because of the emergence of various disruptive technologies that can
either assist quitting, prevent youths from starting the habit, or
attract people to smoking.
“ECV was initially touted as a way to help smokers quit but we’ve seen
how Juul has ended up enticing youths to take it up instead.”
UM, he says, is already using data and technology in its tobacco control efforts.
The varsity’s dental group is working on an app for school children to prevent initiation to smoking.
And, Dr Yee is collecting data to match smokers with cessation apps that are right for them.
“We’ve thousands of smoking cessation apps yet the success rate is only
25%. Each app caters to specific personalities so we’re trying to match
smokers with apps that cater to their preferences. This will ensure a
higher success rate.”
By
CHRISTINA CHIN - Source link
Teens the target for vape products
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Cause for concern: Subbarow showing the smart watch vape gadget at the CAP office in Jalan Masjid Negeri, Penang. |