The Department of Health (DOH) is pushing for an extensive health literacy campaign to raise awareness on the dangers of smoking and vaping for students in the Ilocos Region.

DOH Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco said the campaign aims to provide the necessary education for students to become aware of the harmful effects of vaping and smoking.

"Because schools are at the front lines for identifying and supporting students who are struggling with nicotine addiction or at risk of starting, they should get their proper information through their teachers,” Sydiongco explained.

“Proper information and fostering partnerships with stakeholders including parents and community organizations, can prevent vaping and smoking," she added.

Sydiongco said that many Filipino youth are addicted to vaping and "has already become a fad among the youth."

"That is why we need to combat the deceitful marketing strategy of vape and tobacco industry to prevent this," she continued.

"They will have comprehensive anti-vaping education programs, clear and enforced policies, and we will provide with proper treatment to students who are struggling with smoking addiction or peer pressure," she added.

In the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey of the World Health Organization, there is an increasing number of tobacco and e-cigarette usage among the youth, with 809,677 or 12.7 percent using tobacco products, while 913,316 or 14.1 percent used vape or e-cigarettes.

The DOH, through its anti-tobacco health campaigns, continues to warn the public that the use of vape results in e-cigarette or vapor product-associated lung injury (EVALI), nicotine addiction, which eventually leads to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Sydiongco also reminded the public that we have already recorded the first EVALI-related death in the country, a 22-year-old male with no history of health issues but with a two-year daily vaping habit, who suffered a fatal heart attack, following a severe lung injury.

Tobacco smoking remains one of the leading — but preventable — causes of death nationwide, as stated in the 2021 Global Burden of Disease Survey.