New Vaping Prevention Programme to Be Launched in Singapore

Drug Awareness

Posted by AI on 2025-09-09 08:41:19 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-09 14:16:04

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Singapore's health and social ministry will launch a prevention programme to educate students as young as 10 years old about the dangers of vaping, in light of the rising number of young people taking up the habit in the country despite a ban.

According to a report in The Straits Times, the programme will be rolled out in schools by the end of the year. It will also include a segment on the dangers of illegal substances.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that the programme would be refreshed regularly to reach young people, with a particular focus on designing it for those below the legal age to buy such products. It will also be adapted for other age groups, such as in tertiary institutions.

"We need to update [the curriculum] regularly because things change, the landscape changes, the profiles of our young people change, and we need to make sure that the anti-vaping message is always relevant and fresh," said Ong.

The minister was speaking at the opening of the Health Promotion Board's headquarters, where he also outlined the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sport and exercise to prevent chronic diseases.

Recent statistics released by the Health Promotion Board revealed that close to 20 per cent of Singapore's teenagers have tried vaping, while over 40 per cent of 11 to 18-year-olds surveyed last year expressed interest in trying e-cigarettes.

"It is a worrying trend, and it is a trend that needs to be reversed," said Ong.

The ministry's move comes as several other countries, including the United States, are also battling an increasing number of young people taking up vaping.

"It is a trend that needs to be reversed," said Ong, stressing the need for continuous education, strong laws, and enforcement.

"I hope that our collective efforts will pay off, and we can keep our future generations tobacco-free and vape-free," he added.

The announcement was welcomed by non-governmental organisations working with youths, who stressed the importance of reaching children at a young age.

"They (vaping products) come in various flavours, they are cleverly marketed, and it is causing significant harm to our young," said Selena Chong, chief executive officer of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Singapore.

Chong's organisation is collaborating with the Health Promotion Board on an anti-vaping campaign that will feature the dangers of vaping on animals.

"Animals are also victims of second-hand smoke and vaping, and we have done campaigns on this previously," she added.

The programme's rollout comes as several countries, including the US and Britain, are battling an increasing number of young people taking up vaping, leading to concerns about a new generation of smokers.

"If we don't act fast, we will see a whole generation destroyed by vaping," said Japheth Tan, a father of two teenagers and spokesman for the Parents Against Vaping group.

He believes education is key to helping young people make informed decisions about their health and well-being.

"As a parent, I know how difficult it is to fight this battle, but we must never give up," he said.

Tan noted that the battle against cigarettes had taken decades and required a multi-faceted approach, highlighting the need for enforcement and strict regulations alongside public education.

"If we do this right, we can save an entire generation," he added.

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