Kuala Lumpur, 7 October 2023 – The Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Persatuan Mencegah Dadah Malaysia or PEMADAM) in collaboration with health NGOs, the Persatuan Kesihatan IKRAM Malaysia (Ikram Health) and Medical Mythbusters Malaysia (M3) organised an intervention programme for B40 youth against smoking and vaping. The programme is part of the Malaysian Quit Smoking Services (mQuit), an initiative launched by the Ministry of Health in 2015.
Youths, led by Parents Against Vape and Cigarettes (PAVAC), ranging from 14 to 18, from the Klang Valley, have been recruited to join the programme.
PEMADAM Partnered with mQuit in 2020 and have conducted various no-smoking programmes with other NGOs which provide support and tools for the public to quit smoking and vaping.
“Today’s intervention programme is the first programme that targets B40 youth. Parents and youth were invited to a briefing which will guide them on the processes they will undertake to quit smoking. They were given Carbon Monoxide (CO) exhalation and Lung Spirometry which are used to test their lung capacity and ability, which will be impacted by smoking and vaping. PEMADAM took this initiative as we understand that smoking and vaping are gateways to drug addiction, and we would like to nip this in the bud,” said YBhg Dato’ Haji Kaswuri Keman, Chairman, mQuit-PEMADAM-KKM Programme.
There have been reports that drugs are infused in vape liquid.
Present to brief the youth on the dangers of smoking and vaping is Dr Mohd Afiq Mohd Nor, President of the Persatuan Kesihatan IKRAM Malaysia (Ikram Health). Ikram Health is an NGO comprising the medical fraternity. Also present are Encik Mohd Dziehan Mustapa, Deputy Chairman of M3 and Encik Rashdan Rashid, Chairman, PAVAC. These NGOs have been very vocal in highlighting the dangers of smoking and
especially vaping and support the need to have the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 to be passed in the Parliament.
Parents of youth are invited to the many public briefings that will be conducted by PEMADAM to understand why their children smoke and be guided in weaning their children of their smoking and vaping addiction. The objective of the programme is to take the educational approach as opposed to capital punishment in managing young smokers.
“There is a possibility of adverse long-term effect impact of e-cigarettes and vapes on human health. And even reports by tobacco sponsors, which have produced conflicting results, ultimately could not say vapes and e-cigarettes are safe. I sincerely hope I can make as many people understand the danger,” said Dr Afiq.
In support of the creating a healthier youth, Ikram Health is running a petition to urge the Parliament to vote for the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023. Which will regulate the use of e-cigarettes or vapes, which have thus far operated without regulatory oversight.
It is worth noting that currently, there are no regulations governing the manufacturing, packaging, storage, sale, and distribution of e-cigarettes and vapes, which has allowed them to be sold even to minors. The appeal of these products, with their colorful and enticing packaging, as well as a wide array of flavors, has led to a concerning increase in vaping among teenagers, some of whom may be drawn to them due to their packaging resembling everyday items like pens or toys.
These has contributed to the prevalence of vaping and e-cigarette use among teenagers. The intervention programme organised aims to address this urgent issue and offer a lifeline to B40 youth who are at risk of smoking addiction.
“The programme is a testament to our commitment to protecting the health and future of our youth. It is our responsibility to equip them with the tools and knowledge necessary to resist the allure of smoking and vaping.” said M3 Chairman, Mohd Dziehan.
This programme is designed with the primary objective of preventing teenagers from falling into the dangerous trap of vaping, and e-cigarette usage while simultaneously assisting those who have been smoking to quit their smoking habit. This programme represents a significant step toward promoting healthier lifestyles among our nation’s youth.
The programme is a public-private initiative and is also supported by Translab Malaysia Sdn Bhd, which conducts the CO and Lung Spiromentry tests, and the Ministry of Education.
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