‘We don’t want youth to enter darker places’: Counsellors say support key to kicking vaping habit

SINGAPORE - Amid a wave of tougher enforcement action and public criticism of young vapers, some social workers are calling for more compassion for these addicts.

Instead of shaming or condemning them, these social workers believe parents and teachers can support them in their recovery.

Recent reports of young people vaping

have ignited widespread discussion, with some people labelling them as defiant, rebellious and out of control.

With vaping illegal here, others called for enhanced enforcement efforts, and laud the

impending move to label etomidate

as an illegal drug with stricter punishment. Etomidate is a controlled substance increasingly found in vapes.

Ms Flora Tan, senior social worker at Care Corner Youth Services, said its team is grateful for the legal update as it enables them to act more decisively regarding vaping.

But she is worried public discourse centred on shame and punishment might deter youth from seeking help.

Ms Tan said: “Addiction is already something that is done in the dark. We don’t want our youth to go into even darker places.”

She added that some assume these young people are deliberately choosing to indulge in vaping or cause trouble in public.

She said some young people start vaping with their peers, when they do not have a sense of security at home or at school.

“Often, it is a way to feel they belong with these friends when they don’t find it anywhere else.”

Ms Audrie Siew, executive director of the children and youth group at The Salvation Army, said young vapers share common factors such as unstable families, exposure to peer pressure, academic stress or lack of structured supervision.

Ms Siew said: “For some, vaping is an attempt to cope with anxiety and stress. For others, it is a misguided pursuit of trendiness.”

She added that research shows those with adverse childhood experiences have a higher risk of addiction and risky behaviours.

The Salvation Army team addresses deeper issues such as trauma, lack of supervision or strained familial relationships.

Mr Alvin Seng, a counsellor at We Care Community Services, which runs an addiction recovery centre, said it is important to not antagonise or escalate tensions with the youth, as doing so would likely push them towards more vape or Kpod use.

He recommended approaching young people when they are in a better state, and not when they are intoxicated or distressed.

Mr Seng added that a recovery plan may involve group counselling and support groups.

Youth Guidance Outreach Services executive director Wilson Tan said its smoking and vaping cessation programme focuses on intervention and rehabilitation, rather than punitive measures.

The programme provides one-to-one counselling for young people.

It includes hearing the testimony of a former addict, keeping a journal of their smoking cravings and teaching them how to cope with withdrawal symptoms.

Those who need help to quit vaping can join the Health Promotion Board’s I Quit programme by calling the QuitLine on 1800-438-2000 without fear of prosecution.

Possessing, using or buying vapes carries a maximum fine of $2,000, but the authorities said no action will be taken against those who voluntarily dispose of their vapes, and

their identities will not be traced

.

Ultimately, Ms Tan said the most important factor that encourages young vapers to change is social support.

So far, her team has found some success with three young vapers between 16 and 17 years old.

One of them wanted to quit, and encouraged two friends to do the same. The trio now meet Care Corner’s social workers weekly to track their progress.

Ms Tan encouraged parents and teachers not to give up on journeying with these young people.

She said: “Quitting is not just about going through four or five sessions of counselling, but the kinds of relationships they have in their lives that can keep them accountable.”