VoicesOf Youth

Ensure non-smokers don't light up

Singapore has in place strict rules for smokers, but I feel that we are not focusing on the root of the issue.

The issue begins with the choice to smoke; if no one chooses to smoke, there would be no problem to begin with.

Hence, we should be influencing non-smokers to choose not to smoke.

We can have more advertisements on TV and the media to warn them of the potential health issues if they pick up smoking.

Smoking zones, like those introduced in Orchard Road, should not be brought into the heartland, where there is high human traffic, including children.

We do not want our young to pick up the addictive habit as they grow up.

Forcurrent smokers, we should send them letters and e-mails that contain information on hotlines and help centres they can go to for free consultations to rid themselves of the habit of smoking.

We could also subsidise or reduce the price of medications used to help them quit, such as nicotine patches.

Jordan Loo Ming Zhou, 14

Secondary 3 student

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 20, 2017, with the headline Ensure non-smokers don't light up. Subscribe