Cigarette smoke permeates schools
The image of students openly using electronic cigarettes behind school gates has become familiar. A 17-year-old male student in Hai Ba Trung District (Hanoi) said that he has used two new generation of cigarettes: electronic cigarettes and cigarettes containing essential oils.
"Cigarettes are equally toxic. Using e-cigarettes or cigarettes with essential oils has a better smell and doesn't have the bad smell of regular cigarettes," said this male student.
In fact, the ease of access to new generation cigarettes comes from the absence of legal regulations prohibiting their use, making buying and selling simple.
At an electronic cigarette store on Lac Trung Street, Hai Ba Trung District (Hanoi), the owner confirmed that students often come to buy smoking devices and essential oils. The buying and selling takes place openly, regardless of age.
Nowadays, the use of electronic cigarettes not only appears in high school but also spreads to middle school.
From a psychological perspective, Dr. Vu Thu Huong - education expert, former lecturer at Hanoi Pedagogical University, commented that the age of using electronic cigarettes is getting younger.
“Students’ responsibilities to their families, schools and society seem to be overlooked. Many students are pampered by their families, not required to do any other work, just focusing on studying. In addition, the pressure from studying and taking exams is great while there are few experiential activities, e-cigarettes appear as a new thing, stimulating students’ curiosity and experience” - Dr. Vu Thu Huong commented.
Unforeseen consequences
According to Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen - Director of the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital, the situation of poisoning due to electronic cigarettes is increasing with many patients being young people, even students. The symptoms are very complicated, from convulsions, psychosis to damage to the brain and other organs.
"At the poison control center, we have recorded cases of psychosis and poisoning caused by the use of electronic cigarettes, usually in 17-18 year olds. And there have been a number of cases in other provinces and cities where patients in 6th grade have used this type of cigarette.
It's not just tobacco that's the problem, but many new drugs are also being cleverly disguised as e-cigarettes. These substances can have a strong impact on the nervous system, leading to paranoia and hallucinations, making users lose control of their surroundings."
Electronic cigarettes should be banned completely soon.
Previously, at the Workshop to announce the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan emphasized that Vietnam needs to take strong actions to prevent new cigarettes. The immediate solution is to propose the National Assembly to issue a Resolution banning the production, trading, import, advertising, and use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Proposing solutions to prevent e-cigarettes in schools, Dr. Vu Thu Huong said that there should be three forces involved in educating students: school, family and society. Schools need to have strict regulations on the problem of using e-cigarettes in schools.
In addition, schools should organize sharing and propaganda sessions about the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes. On the family side, timely attention and understanding of children's thoughts are the golden key to help shape the direction for children.
On the social side, in addition to legal regulations on preventing electronic cigarettes, there should be activities for teenagers.
