One of the effective ways to reduce email the use of cigarettes and tobacco products among children and youth – to involve children and adolescents themselves, their family members, communities and institutions providing assistance in solving the problem. Both their cooperation and awareness raising are important.
“The prevalence of smoking has become today’s global epidemic. As international and national studies show, in Lithuania, as in many European countries, the use of electronic cigarettes and innovative smokeless tobacco products among young people has become particularly popular. The increasing number of e-users The number of young people who smoke cigarettes is determined by many factors, one of them being the prevailing attitude of young people that e-mail cigarettes are not harmful to health, but this is not true. e-mail cigarettes are harmful, they contain toxic substances that are very harmful to health”, says Deputy Minister of Health Aurim Pečkauskas.
A scientific statement from the American Heart Association (2022) states that research shows that email cigarettes contain a lot of various heat-resistant organic particles that break down into toxic substances when heated – strong respiratory irritants and known carcinogens. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that although e-mail the long-term effects of cigarettes are not yet well-studied, studies show harmful effects on the heart and lungs.
Nicotine is a highly addictive psychoactive substance. According to the WHO, minors who have never smoked and use e-cigarettes with nicotine are twice as likely to start smoking tobacco cigarettes later in life. The use of nicotine-containing products negatively affects the brain development of children and adolescents, and can cause learning and anxiety disorders.
Growing consumption calls for additional action
The latest 2022 According to the data of the Lithuanian School Students’ Lifestyle and Health Survey (HBSC) conducted by the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, a higher proportion of Lithuanian students used electronic cigarettes compared to those who smoked tobacco cigarettes. At least once in the last 30 days by e-mail every fifth student in grades 5-9 used cigarettes and the prevalence of their use is increasing rapidly.
“We see the extent of the problem, so in addition to the measures already in place, we plan to take additional steps to motivate people not to start at all, and if they do, to quit smoking as soon as possible and to stop using any products containing nicotine. They are harmful to health, the environment and nature. For this purpose, SAM has planned measures at the national level. I invite municipal administrations, municipal public health offices, communities and, of course, relatives to get involved in the process,” says Ignas Rubikas, head of the Mental Health Department of the Ministry of Health.
The desire is provoked by psychological difficulties experienced
Often the likelihood of using tobacco products, e. smoking or other psychoactive substances is greater for persons experiencing personal or interpersonal difficulties, therefore, in order to reduce the tendency to use psychoactive substances, the support and emotional support of the close environment is important, especially for children and adolescents, who are particularly sensitive due to their psychological maturity.
This is exactly the life situation reflected In a video clip initiated by SAMwhich is broadcast on Lithuanian television channels in September-October. The clip invites you to solve the stress and negative emotions caused by the conflict situation with your parents, not by using psychoactive substances, but in health-enhancing ways, for example, by engaging in active leisure time with friends.
A planned set of measures
Various projects are implemented at the initiative of SAM to motivate residents to quit smoking. From 2024 a national smoking cessation helpline will be launched, where residents will be able to receive free consultations from qualified specialists and a mobile smoking cessation app will be created, initiatives focused on young people and workers will be implemented and a national smoking cessation publicity campaign will be implemented.
Residents are welcome to visit websitewhere you can find reliable and useful information for those who want to quit smoking.
Questions about emotional health can be addressed to municipal public health offices, which are staffed by psychological well-being and mental health promotion specialists. Psychological well-being and mental health strengthening services are provided in all Lithuanian municipalities.
Using the special state targeted grant from 2023. special smoking cessation consultations were started in the public health offices (PSB) of some municipalities: Ukmergė, Marijampolė, Panevėžys district, Rokiškis district (Visagina municipality), Šilutė district, Klaipėda district, Skuodas district, Pasvalis district, Pakruojo district, Kretinga district. , Jonava district, Vilnius city, Kelmė district. In the future, the development of smoking cessation assistance services is planned both at the state and municipal levels.
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