Being a major health issue in the Philippines, around 8.
5 million Filipinos
aged 15 and above smoke, and this include cigarettes and e-cigarettes as
well. Among youths, most of them have shifting traditional smoking behavior
to vaping that is profoundly noticed lately, but most young people perceive it
as safer alternative. This article does just that and will bring out the risks in
regard to health and social issues related to traditional smoking and vaping
to heighten the argument that vaping is not a "safe alternative." The second
aim is to discuss drivers of these habits among the students and to consider
potential intervention strategies which schools and the community can use.
From a cultural perspective, smoking has really been part of the Filipino
culture. Since it is seen more as a social habit, despite the presence of the
Tobacco Regulation Act that banned smoking in public places, a lot of people
smoke freely. Vaping has been one of the fad behaviors established among
the youth as a cooler and less harmful alternative. It appeals to the modern
image and to the totality of flavor selection options, making it very
appealing, especially to the tech-savvy students.
The Philippines' administration approved laws against smoking, such as the
prohibition against using e-cigarettes in public due to serious risks it has not
only to its youth but to society at large. In turn, students can no longer help
but switch to smoking and vaping since their friends and classmates have
normalized these practices. This further urges youth participation because
modern depictions of vaping are construed as more acceptable.
Academic pressures lead students to rely on these substances to relieve
stress or as a way out. The curiosity of vaping and its fun flavors make
several students try it as they seek new experiences. In most cases, beliefs
that e-cigarettes are safer than tobacco products serve to mislead the
students into underestimating the risks.
Both smoking and vaping hold serious health hazards. Various respiratory
diseases have been reported to be caused by long-term use of traditional
cigarettes, but vaping poses a serious risk of lipoid pneumonia among
various lung injuries caused by chemicals in e-liquids. Furthermore, addiction
to nicotine also causes dysfunction of various cognitive functions such as
concentration and focus, thereby affecting performance in academics.
Psychological considerations regarding smoking and vaping are also
concerned; these behaviors correlate well with higher rates of anxiety and
depression among users.
The outcomes of smoking and vaping affect not only his health but also the
school environment. When students are found smoking or vaping, their
numerous disciplinary actions range from detention to suspension, which
may harm their academic records. On the other hand, smoking or vaping
may inadvertently introduce or perpetuate an influence on their peers; thus,
they could easily become involved in a cycle of substance use and abuse
within their network of friends.
Although vaping may look cleaner and less harmful than smoking, research
shows that it has great toxic elements that lead to various health problems.
Studies show that health effects related to smoking resemble those of the
use of the e-cigarette. The addictive levels may be as equally effective as
those of smoking students may have problems with in terms of health and
behavior.
Students reflect on personal experiences regarding the influences
surrounding smoking and vaping. Many are pressed into using the drugs for
reasons of peer pressure but also reflect on the programs established in their
schools to create awareness of the risks associated with the practice.
To handle all these problems effectively, appropriate learning programs
about comprehensive education should be revealed to students about all the
real dangers of smoking and the problem of vaping. Healthy stress outlets
such as sports or arts can also be made as a way of constructive
management. Parental involvement, for instance, holds the trick since
educating parents about all the dangers of smoking and vaping goes a long
way in preventing smoking.
This can be achieved by providing them with the possibility to resist
influences from their peers and support networks among friends that would
encourage healthy choice-making. Additionally, we can enable Filipino youth
to make healthy choices by making informed decisions on how to keep fit by
ensuring the prevention of substance use both within and outside the home
environment or in school environments that discourage substance use and
encourage healthier alternatives.
Summary As can be noted, there are significant risks of smoking and vaping
among the Filipino students. Therefore, recognizing that both substances are
not safe is of huge importance to them. In working towards reducing these
behaviors, we should focus on creating healthy environments via more
individual choice-making and better choices for futures of young people.