EDITORIAL — Discourage smoking and vaping

A pulmonologist is calling on local government units across the province to intensify information and education campaigns on tobacco harm reduction, saying that stronger public awareness is needed to address the health risks brought about by both smoking and vaping.

According to a report in this newspaper, Dr. Gerard Garcia, chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at Cebu Doctors' University, said more platforms are needed to discuss tobacco harm reduction and smoking cessation, particularly among the young who are vulnerable to nicotine addiction.

Yes, we should do all we can to discourage smoking and vaping.

Those who smoke see their vice as something harmless, but they’re wrong. Studies have linked smoking to various illnesses like emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, tuberculosis, respiratory infections, heart disease, and even lung cancer.

Second-hand smoke also bothers people around smokers, and cigarette butts are some of the more common types of trash littering our streets.

But smoking isn’t the only problem anymore. Vaping is on the rise among the youth, who think it isn’t as dangerous as actual smoking or that it’s “cooler” than using cigarettes.

But vaping isn’t much safer, also having been linked to lung damage and disease, cardiovascular strain, brain development risks, and cancer risks. Vaping can also become the introduction to actual smoking because it contributes to nicotine addiction.

Admittedly, weaning various generations away from smoking or vaping won’t be easy. Especially smoking.

One reason is that cigarettes are readily available; one can easily get a stick from anywhere like ambulant vendors and local sari-sari stores. Another reason is that smoking has also become associated with the stereotypical image of a macho man, thanks to the many misleading commercials, ads, and posters.

Yet for another, smoking has also become a quick way for many smokers to grab a quick moment of relaxation. For them the very act of breathing in smoke brings them a moment of calm in an otherwise hectic day.

So where do we begin to change the attitude of people regarding smoking?

Perhaps looking at the above reasons might help. Make cigarettes not so readily available anymore, reinforce the idea that one can be manly even without smoking, and promote other forms of relaxation aside from smoking.

Other solutions should be presented as well.