Malaysia's Anti-Smoking Program Targets Youth Using E-Cigarettes

According to a recent update from New Klse on October 16th, the Malaysia Anti-Drug Association, the Malaysia Health Association, and the Malaysia Public Health Education Association have jointly organized a smoking cessation program. The aim of this program is to prevent young people from smoking and using e-cigarettes.

A smoking cessation program provides an example of two brothers who, due to curiosity and peer pressure, have begun using e-cigarettes.

14-year-old middle school student Angah revealed that he started smoking e-cigarettes in sixth grade. Initially, he felt a bit dizzy, but eventually, e-cigarettes calmed him down and created an addiction, to the point where he had to hide this habit from his parents. Even in high school, Angah's addiction to e-cigarettes persisted, to the extent that he would take out 3 Malaysian Ringgit from his daily allowance of 5 Ringgit to purchase e-cigarette liquid, and would even share it with his peers.

Angah stated that sometimes three people will share one e-cigarette. He would rather go hungry and save his pocket money to buy e-cigarettes and e-liquid. "My initial intention was to relieve stress, and the cost of purchasing the device would be shared among friends," he said.

Angah's mother revealed that she discovered her son's smoking habit earlier this year. Initially, he claimed that the e-cigarette device belonged to his cousin or uncle.

Despite his mother's repeated advice and warnings about the dangers of e-cigarettes, Angah has chosen to ignore her and continues to use them. As a result of his actions, his parents have been called to the school twice, and recently, the school has even considered expelling him.

Now, Angah's 11-year-old brother, Adik, has also started vaping e-cigarettes and has been asking his older brother for devices and e-liquid. Adik's parents have been successful in preventing him from smoking.

Adik admitted, "I started vaping due to some friends at school who influenced me, but after my father caught me vaping, I no longer have the courage to continue.