Eliminating the Habit: The Effect of Nationwide Smoking Ban to Teenage Smokers

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

With tobacco causing more than 5 million deaths yearly across the globe, smoking has been identified as the leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide. Therefore, the government issued a number of measures wherein the most recent was Executive Order No. 26 of President Rodrigo Duterte implementing a smoking ban in public areas, schools, and establishments. School is one of the places where teenagers smoke. In response, theDepartment of Education recently launched an online program called "EskwelaBansaSigarilyo" which aims to raise student awareness on Department of EducationOrder no. 48 setting forth the Tobacco Control Policy. This research was conducted to determine the effect of the nationwide ban on smoking to teenage smokers. It also examined the anti-smoking policies implemented in New Era National High School in accordance to the smoking ban and how effective they are in eliminating tobacco consumption among teenage smokers.

METHODS

This study used a Descriptive-Narrative Design with 40 participants who qualified as smokers aged 14-17 years. This qualitative research used Purposive Sampling since there was a specific target of participants and used interview as a tool for data gathering.

RESULTS

Based on the data gathered, the results revealed that 19 respondents started smoking because they were influenced by peers, 3 respondents were influenced by parents, 10 respondents started smoking out of curiosity, and 8 respondents said that they smoke just for fun. All respondents consumed between 2 to 7 sticks a day. All of the respondents also stated that they are aware of the National Smoking Ban implemented by the government such as warning signs in the pack of cigarettes and no smoking rules in all public areas such as schools, government facilities, hospitals, and etc. However, measures have no effect to teenage smokers even if New Era National High School followed and implemented programs by having seminars and roll-out campaigns.

DISCUSSIONS

Despite these measures, smoking is still prevalent among teenagers. Appropriate teaching materials that promote deeper understanding of the bad effects of smoking in health should be adopted by the Physical Education & Health teachers. The school should continue providing seminars which aim to promote the benefits of quitting smoking accompanied with constant monitoring of these students. Further study may be conducted to measure the effectiveness of the seminars and plans of the school on the effect of nationwide smoking ban to teenage smokers.