LETTERS: The rise of vaping and drug addiction among school children is a troubling trend that poses serious threats to their health, safety, and future.
This issue calls for immediate and concerted action by parents, educators, communities, and policymakers to protect our children and provide them with the right environment to grow and succeed.
Among the reasons to act:
1. Health Risks: Vaping, often marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, is far from harmless. Research shows that it can cause severe respiratory issues, cardiovascular damage, and long-term addiction to nicotine.
Drug use among school children, similarly, has devastating effects on mental and physical health, leading to impaired cognitive development and potential overdose risks.
2. Impact on Education: Addiction to vaping or drugs often results in poor academic performance, absenteeism, and behavioral problems in schools. This undermines a child's potential and increases the likelihood of dropping out of school.
3. Gateway to More Dangerous Habits: Vaping and early experimentation with substances often serve as a gateway to more harmful drug use. Preventing such behavior at an early stage is critical to breaking this cycle.
4. Societal Costs: The broader consequences of ignoring this issue include increased healthcare costs, rising juvenile delinquency, and a future workforce weakened by addiction-related problems.
Among the effective measures to stop vaping and drug addiction among school children include:
1. Stricter Enforcement of Laws:
• Ban the sale and promotion of vaping products near schools.
• Impose stricter penalties on retailers who sell vaping devices or drugs to minors.
• Monitor online platforms to crack down on hidden promotions and illegal sales targeting youth.
2. Enhanced Education and Awareness Campaigns:
• Introduce comprehensive health education in school curriculums highlighting the dangers of vaping and drugs.
• Organise workshops and seminars involving healthcare professionals, former addicts, and law enforcement officers to educate students and parents.
3. Early Intervention Programmes:
• Train teachers and counselors to identify early signs of vaping or drug use and provide immediate support or referrals.
• Establish confidential reporting systems in schools to encourage students to seek help without fear of punishment.
4. Parental Engagement:
• Encourage parents to have open, honest conversations with their children about the dangers of addiction.
• Provide parents with resources to recognise signs of vaping or drug use and guide them on how to address these issues effectively.
5. Strengthening Community Support:
• Collaborate with NGOs and community groups to provide after-school activities and safe spaces for children to deter them from risky behaviours.
• Promote positive peer influence through school clubs and leadership programmes.
6. Regulate Advertising and Marketing:
• Ban misleading advertisements portraying vaping as fashionable or harmless.
• Require plain packaging for vaping products, similar to tobacco control measures, to reduce their appeal.
Protecting our school children from vaping and drug addiction is not just a task for schools or the government — it is a shared responsibility for all of us.
By addressing this issue with urgency, we can safeguard the health and future of our young generation.
Let us act together to create an environment where every child can thrive free from the harms of addiction.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE
Chairman
Alliance For A Safe Community