With classes opening in public schools soon, the Department of Health has urged school officials to help in the national drive against smoking by banning cigarettes and vape devices within campuses.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said that he has begun talks with the Department of Education, saying “we should start drafting a policy that no student should be bringing vape devices to school. Because what’s happening is that as soon as they leave school, that’s when they start vaping.”
He noted that Republic Act No. 11900, or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act, prohibits the sale of vape devices to minors, so students should not be in possession of those. “Those going to school are still below 18 years old. Therefore, they should not be able to hold and use any vape products in the first place,” Herbosa said.
He also noted that while vendors are penalized for selling vaping products to minors, online vendors continue to violate the law as authorities find it hard to monitor their activities.
The DOH has maintained its position that vapes are not a safer option to cigarettes. It had also pushed for the return of its power to regulate tobacco products, including vape, which is currently under the Food and Drug Authority.
It has warned against an epidemic of vape use, especially among the youth, making them at higher risk of becoming addicted and contracting different diseases.
According to the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 14 percent of Filipino youth between 13 and 15 years old are already using e-cigarettes, translating to almost a million young users in the country. Health authorities have expressed concern over the more than double increase, from 11.7 percent to 24.5 percent, of adolescents who are now using vape products even if they never smoked or vaped before.
The campaign against vaping, especially among the young, should be more effective if carried out at home and in schools, where the country’s youth spend most of their time. That means the DOH and DepEd, along with parents, will have to put more effort into keeping a tighter watch on our youth to prevent them from picking up the habit, as they stand to suffer most from the long term health risks that go with it. As we start another school year, let us wish the adults the best of luck in this ongoing campaign against tobacco smoking and vaping.*
