Anatomy of a cigarette
On increasing female and youth smokers, TAPS, e-cigarettes, and ‘Yosi Kadiri’
By Nickky Faustine De Guzman
Published: July 16, 2013
Warnings about the
hazards of smoking abound, including the point that smoking can cause
death. Yet many smokers do not seem to heed these precautions until the
effects of smoking have taken a toll on their health. The government is
not short on reminding everyone about the dangers posed by cigarettes.
Various campaigns and laws have been passed and issued in the hope of
addressing the perils of puffing. In fact, illnesses related to smoking
such as tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung
cancer, and lower respiratory infection are included among the top 10
causes of death in the world.
During the ‘90s, the Department of Health gave life to the Yosi Kadiri mascot, who depicted stained and crooked teeth, pale skin, and red eyes. Yosi Kadiri has been recently revived to inform and remind the public of the dangers of smoking in public places. This resurgence marks the annual celebration of the World No Tobacco Day, which is observed every May 31.
At the world celebration, health advocates strongly urged the government to immediately and effectively ban all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS) in order to reduce the number of smokers, especially the youth, who are the target market of today’s tobacco industry.
According to world research, about one third of the youth experimentation on cigarettes ensues as a result of exposure to TAPS. Seventy eight percent of the teens aged 13-15 worldwide are regularly exposed to TAPS. The 2009 Philippine Global Tobacco survey meanwhile says that 28% of Filipinos aged 15 and over (or about 17.3 million) are smokers.
“The youth are the target of advertising because the older smokers are now dying, so they will replace them. Tobacco companies continue to entice young people to start smoking through the aggressive ads, promotions, and marketing strategies such as product placements in strategic and visible areas like restaurants, convenience stores, malls, and sponsorships in concerts. These create major brand recall among the youth,” Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance, Philippines (FCAP) Executive Director Dr. Maricar Limpin says.
The banning of TAPS is incorporated among the provisions of the Republic Act 9211 or Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. The law also includes the prohibition on selling tobacco within 100 meters away from schools, playgrounds, and other facilities frequented by minors, and smoking in public places.
The FCAP, DOH, Philippine College of Chest Physicians, Novartis Healthcare, and Marikina City pledge to support the TAPS-ban and be vigilant against the undermining of RA 9211.
Soaring number of female smokers
Meanwhile, there is also an upsurge in the number of Filipina smokers with 10.2% percent of the population, the most recent Tobacco Atlas data say. It also reveals that 6.4% of the female students aged 13-15 are already smokers. It also discloses that Philippine ranking on women smokers soared from number 26 in 2006 to top 16 two years after.
“This is because of the notion that women who smoke are sosyal. They also feel empowered when they smoke,” the DOH’s National Center for Health Promotion Supervising Health Program Officer, Luz B. Tagunicar explains. Concerns with weight, social acceptance, rebellion, and individuality also explain the reasons why females smoke.
E-cigarettes
While the electronic cigarettes are widely perceived as effective smoking cessation devices, the US Food and Drug Administration found that they contain traces of tobacco specific nitrosamine (cancer-causing compounds usually found in traditional cigarettes), diethylene glycol (component of antifreeze and brake fluids that can cause kidney damage and respiratory failure), and some particles of silver, iron, aluminum, silicate, and nano particles of tin, chromium, and nickel. Ergo, e-cigarettes are as harmful as conventional cigarettes.
“Electronic cigarettes are not advisable since you don’t kick the habit. Humihithit ka pa rin. Kung gusto mong tumigil sa paninigarilyo, take anti-nicotine drugs,” DOH Undersecretary Eric Tayag said on a television interview.
During the ‘90s, the Department of Health gave life to the Yosi Kadiri mascot, who depicted stained and crooked teeth, pale skin, and red eyes. Yosi Kadiri has been recently revived to inform and remind the public of the dangers of smoking in public places. This resurgence marks the annual celebration of the World No Tobacco Day, which is observed every May 31.
At the world celebration, health advocates strongly urged the government to immediately and effectively ban all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS) in order to reduce the number of smokers, especially the youth, who are the target market of today’s tobacco industry.
According to world research, about one third of the youth experimentation on cigarettes ensues as a result of exposure to TAPS. Seventy eight percent of the teens aged 13-15 worldwide are regularly exposed to TAPS. The 2009 Philippine Global Tobacco survey meanwhile says that 28% of Filipinos aged 15 and over (or about 17.3 million) are smokers.
“The youth are the target of advertising because the older smokers are now dying, so they will replace them. Tobacco companies continue to entice young people to start smoking through the aggressive ads, promotions, and marketing strategies such as product placements in strategic and visible areas like restaurants, convenience stores, malls, and sponsorships in concerts. These create major brand recall among the youth,” Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance, Philippines (FCAP) Executive Director Dr. Maricar Limpin says.
The banning of TAPS is incorporated among the provisions of the Republic Act 9211 or Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. The law also includes the prohibition on selling tobacco within 100 meters away from schools, playgrounds, and other facilities frequented by minors, and smoking in public places.
The FCAP, DOH, Philippine College of Chest Physicians, Novartis Healthcare, and Marikina City pledge to support the TAPS-ban and be vigilant against the undermining of RA 9211.
Soaring number of female smokers
Meanwhile, there is also an upsurge in the number of Filipina smokers with 10.2% percent of the population, the most recent Tobacco Atlas data say. It also reveals that 6.4% of the female students aged 13-15 are already smokers. It also discloses that Philippine ranking on women smokers soared from number 26 in 2006 to top 16 two years after.
“This is because of the notion that women who smoke are sosyal. They also feel empowered when they smoke,” the DOH’s National Center for Health Promotion Supervising Health Program Officer, Luz B. Tagunicar explains. Concerns with weight, social acceptance, rebellion, and individuality also explain the reasons why females smoke.
E-cigarettes
While the electronic cigarettes are widely perceived as effective smoking cessation devices, the US Food and Drug Administration found that they contain traces of tobacco specific nitrosamine (cancer-causing compounds usually found in traditional cigarettes), diethylene glycol (component of antifreeze and brake fluids that can cause kidney damage and respiratory failure), and some particles of silver, iron, aluminum, silicate, and nano particles of tin, chromium, and nickel. Ergo, e-cigarettes are as harmful as conventional cigarettes.
“Electronic cigarettes are not advisable since you don’t kick the habit. Humihithit ka pa rin. Kung gusto mong tumigil sa paninigarilyo, take anti-nicotine drugs,” DOH Undersecretary Eric Tayag said on a television interview.
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