An individual is photograph vaping in Quezon City on May 31, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/file 

OLONGAPO CITY — The Department of Education (DepEd) said Friday is boosting its existing programs on tobacco and vape control, along with other forms of addiction like illegal drugs and alcohol drinking.

DepEd Assistant Secretary Dexter Galban, who is also a doctor, said that for authorities to succeed, they must speak to the youth "in their own language", which "changes very fast".

"Six months ago, hindi uso iyong mga main memes na ginagamit ngayon. Iyong kunwari, 'Of course, I'm a DepEd learner, I don't vape.' Iyong mga ganoon... We have to be able to catch up with the times. We have to be able to integrate pop culture references, whether it be BINI, or BGYO, or any other thing that is in for them to understand that these are things that are relevant to them," he told participants of a health literacy media conference in Subic, Olongapo City.

"So having young people as the advocates and not just beneficiaries is essential to make the campaign work," he added.

Galban shared that the dangers of tobacco and vape smoking are already being taught in the K to 12 curriculum "scattered" in different subjects, and will be intensified in the new basic education curriculum.

"Because this would be the age bracket wherein they would be closer to the time where they would be already allowed to purchase tobacco and vape products," he said.

"We present that these are the dangers, but at the same time, we complement that by presenting what are the better alternatives for your mental health and well-being, whether that would be counseling, whether that would be engaging in sports, whether that be being part of a socio-civic movement," he added.

The official explained teachers are also being educated on the different types of e-cigarettes, which have evolved to look like highlighters, ballpens, and the like.

"Because before, we didn’t have vapes... And for some teachers, they don’t know that the USB-like thing that the kid, the learner, the student is holding is actually vape. They don’t know that the lanyard around their neck is not actually their school ID. Only there is a vape attached at  the back. Or they can come in a myriad of other forms," Galban said.

"We have to train our teachers to spot these particular products because they are rapidly evolving and changing," he added.

Meanwhile, Ma. Salome Zoleta of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) supports the call to ban vaping inside establishments, as the agency aspires for a "smoke-free and vape-free" Metro Manila.

Zoleta said local governments units are enforcing their respective ordinances against smoking and vaping.

QUITTERS

The Department of Health (DOH) is determined to encourage more Filipinos to stop the habit through the Quitline 1558, one of its smoking cessation programs.

Dr. Jessica Catalan-Legarda of the Lung Center of the Philippines said there are 40 currently enrolled smokers in the program, and three of them are vape users.

She admitted that these numbers are low, since quitting is always voluntary.

"One of the hindrance kung bakit hindi sila nagqui-quit kasi ayaw nilang maramdaman ang withdrawal symptoms... Laging mainit ang ulo, masakit ang ulo at times, pwede pang nahihilo, so iyong mga undesired effects," she shared.

"Whereas kapag nagyosi na lang ako, may nicotine level yung brain ko, masaya ang pakiramdam ko  'di ba? So there is a pleasure reward sensation," she added.

Catalan-Legarda explained there were 29 "successful quitters" out of the 144 smokers enrolled in the program in 2023.

"Ang common denominator nila would be young age. Among the successful quitters, ang age group po nila would be 22 to 44 years of age. And, of course, iyong high iyong educational background," she said.

"To be able to say na quitter siya, kailangan six months - more than six months kasi - na hindi nagva-vape... Based sa mga studies, it will take around seven to eight times attempt na makapag-quit para successfully makapag-quit ang isang smoker or vaper," she added.