PETALING JAYA: They never smoked, nor even touched a cigarette, but 90% of the primary and secondary students interviewed in a survey have admitted to being ecigarette “addicts”.
Some of them confessed to having lied to their parents so that they could have some money to buy the devices.
“They asked for extra pocket money from their parents or uncles, claiming that they need it to buy food when they have to stay back for extra class or to buy books or to photostat reading materials,” said Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) education officer NV Subbarow.
CAP, which spoke to about 50 students from 15 primary and secondary schools in both urban and rural areas, found that most of them admitted to spending RM50 to RM60 per month to buy the electronic devices.
Aside from the survey that was held in June, Subbarow said he also learned more about the situation from students he met during anti-tobacco and ecigarette programmes held in various schools around the country.
Peer pressure was the main reason many of the students got into it, he said.
He said these students viewed smoking cigarettes as a “dirty” habit and that vaping was a more acceptable alternative.
Furthermore, they said ecigarettes were never made illegal for the underage, he added.
“Plus, it comes in various models, colours and flavours. Fruits, bubble gum and candy are the most popular flavours among the survey respondents,” he said.
Subbarow said 80% of them did not know that some vape juices could contain nicotine.
“The primary school kids thought they are just inhaling something that is fruity and sweet.
“They didn’t think they should be worried about any added chemicals.
“They said vaping makes them happy, so they enjoy doing it,” he said.
Subbarow said disciplinary teachers who were interviewed in the survey also confirmed getting complaints from other students about the smell of vape in school toilets.
Five secondary school teachers said they received complaints about such a smell coming from the male toilets, he said.
The government, Subbarow said, should prohibit the sale of ecigarettes and the use of flavouring juices to minors.
“Now, even small stalls selling magazines, sweets or biscuits are selling vape and ecigarette products.
“They even sell it to children,” he claimed.
