More than 1,000 students participate in the forum "Say no to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, new addictive substances"
On the afternoon of May 14, at Ha Huy Tap High School (Vinh City), Nghe An Department of Education and Training, Tien Phong Newspaper and Nghe An Provincial Youth Union jointly organized the 3rd What I Want to Say Forum in 2025.
The program was implemented with the theme: Say no to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, new addictive substances, with the participation of psychologists, doctors, representatives of Nghe An Provincial Police and more than 1,000 students in the province.
Attending the program were Dr. Tran Van Lam - Deputy Director of the Department of Students - Ministry of Education and Training, journalist Le Minh Toan - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tien Phong Newspaper.
On the side of Nghe An province, there were comrades: Thai Van Thanh - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee - Director of the Department of Education and Training, Pham Ngoc Canh - Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department; Ngo Duc Kien - Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper and representatives of relevant departments and branches.
The forum “What I Want to Say” is a key activity in a series of events towards the Month of Action for Children in 2025. The program aims to raise awareness, equip knowledge and skills to prevent risks from tobacco, e-cigarettes and new addictive substances in schools.
Speaking at the program, journalist Le Minh Toan - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tien Phong Newspaper raised the current situation in many schools whenelectronic cigarette, new generation stimulants are increasingly infiltrating school life. At the same time, they directly attack the health, awareness and future of the young generation - those who will build the country in the future.
More worryingly, e-cigarettes - products promoted as a "safer", "trendier" option - are deceiving young people. With eye-catching designs, attractive scents and easy access via social networks, e-cigarettes have quickly become a trap for many students.
According to the report on the results of the study on tobacco use among students aged 13-15 by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training in 2022, the current rate of students using tobacco is about 2.9% (down from the 2014 study results of 4.0%). In particular, the rate of female students using tobacco shows signs of increasing (currently about 0.8%, up from 0.2% in 2014, mainly due to the use of new tobacco products). The rate of students exposed to second-hand smoke in schools is 35.7% (down from the 2014 study results of 48.6%).
Reality also shows that, in recent years, the Ministry of Education and Training has directed and promoted propaganda and education on preventing the harmful effects of tobacco among students and building "Tobacco-free schools".
In particular, the Ministry of Education and Training has proposed to include regulations on smoking ban for students and teachers in educational activities in the 2019 Education Law and specific regulations and instructions in sub-law documents and school regulations. However, the strict prohibition of tobacco and addictive substances in schools and among students still faces many difficulties.
Faced with the increasing rate of students using electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, at the program, Dr. Tran Van Lam - Deputy Head of the Department of Students and Students requested that authorities and schools continue to strengthen direction, inspection and supervision of strict implementation of the provisions of the Law on Prevention of Tobacco Harms in educational institutions.
In addition, it is necessary to promote education and communication on preventing the harmful effects of tobacco and e-cigarettes and building "Tobacco-free schools".
At the same time, strengthen coordination between schools, families and society; especially attaching the responsibility and role of families, parents and guardians in controlling students' smoking behavior.
Also in the forum "Instead of words", students heard experts and guests talk about the harmful effects of tobacco and new addictive substances.
This is also a space for students to speak up, express their opinions, propose initiatives, and join hands to build a healthy, safe, smoke-free school environment.
Through this, it is also an opportunity for all levels and sectors to listen and take action to promptly prevent risks affecting the health and comprehensive development of children./.
