Use of Electronic Cigarettes Among Students Increasingly Worrisome, Immediate Action Needed – Lee
KUALA LUMPUR: The Selamat Community Association has expressed concern over the increasing use of electronic cigarettes or vapes among school students and teenagers, which has now become a public health threat and requires immediate and integrated action.
Its Chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, said the device, which was originally intended to help adults quit smoking, has now turned into a dangerous trend among young people, thereby exposing them to nicotine addiction at too young an age and serious health risks.
He said attractive packaging, various popular flavours, aggressive online marketing, and easy access have significantly contributed to the rising popularity of the product among students.
“What is even more worrying is the emergence of illegal vape products containing harmful substances, which can have serious effects on physical and mental health,” he said in a statement today.
Lee said the issue should not be regarded as merely a disciplinary problem, but instead needs to be seen as a broader public health issue that requires an approach involving all levels of society, including parents, schools, health authorities, enforcement agencies, community leaders, and the media to address the problem more effectively.
To tackle this increasingly concerning threat, Lee proposed several key interventions, including strengthening enforcement against the sale of these products to minors, as well as conducting periodic inspections around schools and educational institutions.
He also urged authorities to tighten controls on online sales and advertisements targeting young people, while intensifying educational and awareness programmes regarding the dangers of electronic cigarettes.
In addition, parents need to be more sensitive to their children’s activities and peer influence, as well as provide counselling services and support to students who have become addicted to nicotine.
He said the environment of educational institutions and schools must be free from these products, and those found vaping should be given guidance through counselling and rehabilitation programmes, not merely punished.
“The country’s future depends on the health and well-being of the younger generation. We need to take firm action to prevent the vape problem from developing into a more serious public health crisis among Malaysian youth,” said Lee.
Bernama