To:

District Education Officer, Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah Hulu Langat, 43000 Saujana Impian, Kajang.

Smoking Among Students Recent research shows that smoking is a major health problem in the developing world. Rapid social economic development in developing countries are always accompanied by consistent increase in smoking behavior. Adolescence such as student showed the highest percentage of smoking compare to others. Smoking are not only a social ill but also associated with other high risk behaviour later on. Base from research over 75% of adult smokers reported that their first smoking experience began during adolescents (Anthony et al. 1994). In article taken from The Star Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said the second National Health Morbidity and Mortality Survey (NHMS11) conducted in 2003, found that smoking among student increase significantly with each following year. As we all know smoking and tobacco harms nearly every organ in the body, and can lead to serious chronic diseases such as lung cancers and heart disease. In order to create a better and healthy future for the country prevention must be taken on ward to reduce the smoking trend among students. There are many factors influence smoking habits, the common reported for initiating smoking were curiosity and peer pressure among students (Heischober et al. 1997, MOH Malaysia 1996). Adolescents tend to experiment smoking to fit into the society or peer group, however by doing so they believe that they are more accepted by their peers (Reiniger et al. 2005). It is important that health professionals understand the psychosocial developmental process in adolescence. During adolescence, there is a lack of impulse control and there is an increase desire to experiment new experiences; thus the inclination to risk taking behaviours such as smoking. The most common reasons for continuing smoking was stress and addiction. Schoolwork was reported as the most importance factor which contributed to their stress. Demands from schoolwork such as heavy homework assignments, difficulty in

understanding lessons, getting poor grades and high parental expectations contribute to the stress in many adolescents. In additions, peers play an important role in adolescence. Misunderstanding among friends, peer pressure and the need to be accepted by friends are stressors to adolescents. Stress can eventually lead to anxiety or depression in extreme situations. Hence, it is essential that adolescents learn how to deal with stress effectively instead of ignoring it or indulging in bad habits such as cigarette smoking or other substance abuse. The significance of good coping skills among adolescents is of utmost importance in the planning for anti-smoking campaigns. Current strategies to prevent adolescents from engaging in high risk behaviours include a focus on building protective factors such as strong family relationships, religious beliefs, parental monitoring, adult role models and engagement in structured activities (Reininger et al. 2005). Effective treatment strategies to cease smoking must take place within the context of the youths normal daily life and resist all the factors that promote continuance (Bruvold et al. 1993). Hwang (2005) examined 65 adolescent psychosocial smoking prevention programmes. They reported that knowledge had the highest short-term effect (less than a year) but rapidly decreased in the long term. Behavioural effect was the most meaningful prevention programme as it persists over a three year period. They also reported that smoking reduction rates were increased by using either cognitive behaviour or life skills programme modalities in a schoolcommunity-incorporated programme setting (Hwang et al. 2005). There are limitations in this study. This study included only three secondary schools in a single area. Hence the findings in this study cannot be generalized to represent the country. There may be recall bias among the adolescents while answering the questionnaire and some may not have revealed the true facts of their smoking behaviour. Breaking the habit of smoking may be difficult, but it is possible. Most smokers continue to smoke because of their addiction or dependence on nicotine. The psychological and physical dependence on nicotine is the main cause of failure to quit. Most smokers make five to seven attempts before they finally succeed. Half the battle in quitting lies in actually knowing that needed to be quit. This does help adolescents in dealing with the symptoms of withdrawal that can occur, such as bad moods and the craving to smoke. There are currently two treatment approaches to help in attempt to quit smoking and stay tobacco-free. The first is pharmacologic therapy, while the second is non-pharmacologic treatments. Pharmacologic therapy,

in simple terms, is the use of drugs to treat a certain condition. This treatment method is used to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms from smoking cessation, and helps a smoker abstain from smoking. Non-pharmacologic treatments include counselling, health education, hypnosis, and acupuncture. Hypnosis can, in certain cases, be very successful in convincing a smoker to develop and strengthen the desire not to smoke. Acupuncture are useful in alleviating smoking ,irritability, cravings and restlessness. Early smoking intervention strategies are necessary as younger boys are now involved in smoking. The initiatives should begin early in primary school to reduce the prevalence of smoking among adolescents. Educating the adolescents on being assertive and acquiring effective coping strategies in managing stress are important issues to be included in the preventive strategies. Health care providers should take every opportunity to screen smoking among their adolescent patients. They should incorporate cigarette smoking prevention into daily practice, acquire the necessary skills to identify young people at risk of smoking and provide assessment, intervention and treatment when necessary. Smoking activities among teenagers is a serious problem that form in all places not just at school, home or anywhere. This practice was linked tightly with the development of social problems and criminal in the State. If the case is not get rid of completely and immediately, someday it will becomes a serious problem. All parties should work together to deal with these issues. Hopefully one day our country will be an example as a State counsel without cigarettes.

Reported by

Rohana
( ROHANA ABDULLAH)

TABLE OF CONTENT
1. 2. Report on article Attachment

PAGE
1-3