Smoking and the Youth

It is alarming to see that more and more people are cigarette smokers. But what is more alarming, as I observed is that young people, ages 10 to 15 are already engage in this vices. What puzzles me if this young people already know about cigarette smoking as far as its effects on the body?

Chemicals founds in a single cigarette

A stick of cigarette contains 4,000 chemicals. Among these chemicals are ammonium (found in floor and toilet cleaner and believed to increase the absorption rate of nicotine), arsenic (an ingredient found in rat poison), methanol (found in antifreeze, rocket fuel, and general solvents. This chemical is used to hide the irritation caused by cigarette smoke to the throat.) and naphthalene ( a toxic carcinogenic hydrocarbon derived from coal tar or petroleum and an ingredient in mothballs). The tobacco is burned and the vapors are either tasted or inhaled.


Smoking causes several health effects. Smoking causes coronary heart disease, abdominal aortic aneurism and lung disease. Smoking also causes cancer. The cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) in tobacco smoke damage important genes that control the growth of cells, causing them to grow abnormally or to reproduce too rapidly. Some of the cancer caused by smoking are breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, throat cancer, mouth cancer and lung cancer.


According to statistics from the Philippine Global Adult Tobacco Survey, conducted in 2009, 17.3 million Filipinos aged 15 and above smoke, while 13.8 million of this are everyday smokers. Mostly, men are more engage in this vice than women. Daily cigarette smokers smoked on  the averaged 10.6 cigarettes a day.


Again, according to statistics, but this time from the National Youth Commission, 2 out of 5 teens aged 13 to 15 years old smoked last year, with smoking prevalence among young Filipinos estimated at 38.2% or 2.25 million. The data is higher compared to the ones in 2007 and 2003. Young people who are not smoking are also exposed because of the second hand smoke either from their own homes where a family member smokes or in the community where smoking is prevalent.


There are several reasons why teens, even at their early age, has tried smoking. Peer pressure/influence was the main culprit why teens took up smoking. In order to belong to a group of friends, the teen must need to introduce himself to smoking cigarette. Another significant reasons is the environment. In a home where a family member or members smoke, it is no wonder that a teen would do the same thing; or in a community where the teen's neighbor are indulge in that habit. Negative mass media has something to do, in the forms of televisions shows, movies and even video games where characters and celebrities were seen smoking and portrayed cool to the extent as a "role model". This gives a message that smoking is cool or smoking can make one labelled as an adult. Lastly, the role of advertising has something to do with this trend. Small-time retailers such as sari-sari stores and street vendors which are very accessible to the public, are selling cigarettes to youth directly. These are usually sold per stick rather than per pack at P2 each.

Above: 90's anti-smoking of DOH - Yosi Kadiri
Below: Graphic warning labels on cigarette packs

The government has made up campaigns and laws to curb smoking in the Philippines. One of the famous campaign by the government was "Yosi Kadiri" during 90s under then, DOH Secretary Juan Flavier. The program aims to reduce smoking prevalence among Filipino youth. However, the campaign created consciousness among Filipino non-smokers. Just last year, the Metro Manila Development Authority has imposed a smoking ban in the public places of Metro Manila in accordance with the law to protect innocents from second hand smoke. There is already an anti-smoking law in the Philippines, in the form of Republic Act 9211 or Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. The law successfully ban cigarette advertisements in mass media and advertising materials.  However, there are several provisions in the law that are violated such as Section 9 "Minimum Age Sales" and Section 12 "Proof of Age Verification". A separate bill has been pending in the Congress to introduce graphic warning labels on cigarette packs instead of text. Text warnings are ineffective to children, the youth and the illiterate. Graphic warning labels on cigarette packs, on the other hand, are effective in conveying the message of health risk caused by cigarette smoking.


Currently, House Bill 5727 or better known as Sin Tax Reform Bill was approved by the House Ways and Means committee . The bill aims to increase the prices of alcohol and cigarette from its current prices today. It proposes that, during the first year of legislation's implementation, a cigarette pack from its current price of P11.50 will be sold to P23.50. Meanwhile, tobacco products that are sold P11.50 will be sold for P31.80. The government expects to generate 33 billion pesos in revenue from both cigarette and alcoholic products.

Smoking is preventable! 

Tobacco use is the most single preventable cause of death in the world. One could actually prevent it by not engaging to it. There are lots of ways to prevent it such as living a healthy lifestyle and in a good environment as well as selecting good peers. Education, laws and parental guidance are also needed. Education is still the best medium in providing information to the youth regarding cigarette smoking and its effects. Legislating, implementing and enforcing laws that would protect the youth as well as non-smokers who would be affected by passive smoking. Lastly, parental guidance by communicating to the youth about cigarettes and becoming a better role model. There is still time for young smokers (and adult smokers) to quit smoking, starting off by asking for help, avoiding temptations and living the ways to prevent smoking.




Note: Pictures above are not owned by me.