GOOD NEWS!
MORE and more Filipino youths are now attempting to stop smoking cigarettes, a 2007 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) conducted in the Philippines revealed Saturday, May 31, 2008.
According to the survey, 86.1% among current smokers want to stop smoking, 87.1% tried to stop smoking during the past year and 85.9% have received help to stop smoking.
The Manila Times, by Rommel C. Lontayao. June 1, 2008.
Despite the heavy campaigns of the Tobacco industry, it is overwhelming to know that a good number of our youth today actually express the interest to quit the habit of smoking. I mean, many of the ads we see on billboards, TV, and magazines lure people, even the youth, to smoke. And that’s not a good image to our society! It’s good that there are an increasing number of people who try to quit smoking because health problems in the Philippines would most probably experience a positive change. This is one step closer to a cleaner and healthier environment.
AND THE BAD NEWS IS??
The GYTS has also found out that some 8.5 percent of those surveyed were offered free cigarettes by a tobacco company representative. The World Health Organization has raised the alarm on the tobacco marketing net that targets half a billion young people in the Western Pacific Region, warning of the industry’s marketing ploys to hook youngsters into addiction at an early age.
The Manila Times, by Rommel C. Lontayao. June 1, 2008.
This is definitely bad news because the Tobacco industries are finding ways to lure the public once more to patronize their tobacco products. And it’s not only the adults, but also the youth whom they are trying to target. I remember I even saw cigarette packs and sticks that come in different colors and flavors to specifically attract the youth. Even my five year old brother, Aga, became curious and wanted to stick it into his mouth. That is not right.
Why am I so against smoking? Simple, really. It KILLS. Smoking is the single most preventable cause of death and disease. Cigarettes cause more deaths than cocaine, auto accidents, AIDS, alcohol, heroin, fire, suicide and homicide combined. It’s nothing but UNCOOL and downright crazy. Well, unless you really want to suffer the consequences.
What I’m really concerned of is that the Tobacco industry’s taking over the minds of our youth today. Even the DOH and other anti-tobacco advocates concede the fact that media and advertising play big roles in luring young people to smoking. The solution? The government and other health crusaders are now campaigning for a total ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Now this I should support. I hope the Arroyo administration would really focus on this issue.
Save the youth, quit for the better. Resist the urge =P
