Bangkok: Professor Dr. Prakit Vathesatogkit, Chairman of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free Society, has issued a warning regarding the dangers of nicotine, emphasizing that it is more hazardous than commonly perceived. He expressed his concern over the lack of awareness among Thai children, who are often unaware that nicotine is the addictive substance in cigarettes. The professor stressed the importance for Thai society to recognize this issue.
According to Thai News Agency, Associate Professor Dr. Rungrudee Pathanavanich from Ramathibodi Hospital recently delivered a lecture on cigarettes and e-cigarettes in central Thailand. She was surprised to discover that nearly all the students were unaware of what nicotine is and that it is an addictive substance found in cigarettes. The lack of knowledge among students highlights a significant gap in health education that needs to be addressed.
A recent case presented by a cardiologist involved a 65-year-old male patient with diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, who had recently suffered a stroke. Despite his recovery, the patient relapsed into smoking and experienced sudden chest pain, heart failure, and other severe health issues. This case underscores the pressing need for the Ministry of Education to revise the health education curriculum, while the Ministry of Public Health and anti-smoking networks should expand education on "nicotine addiction" across schools and communities.
Tobacco companies are heavily marketing new nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes and nicotine bags, as alternatives to traditional cigarettes. Dr. Prakit highlighted the misleading advertising tactics used by these companies, which suggest that e-cigarettes are harm-reducing products. He recommended the adoption of a "harm reduction" policy by the government and pointed out the hypocrisy of e-cigarette company CEOs who prohibit their own teenagers from using such products.
Dr. Prakit called upon schools, teachers, parents, and the media to educate students nationwide about the dangers of nicotine. He noted that 7 out of 10 Thai children who smoke are addicted to nicotine and face challenges quitting. The efforts to increase awareness aim to combat the growing issue of nicotine addiction among Thai youth.