I ADMIRE Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s decisiveness and wisdom to call for a ban on vape in Johor with effect from Jan 1. Any substance abuse is harmful to health.
Why do we need to wait for years to prove the health impact of vaping before banning it?
By then, thousands of youngsters would be addicted to vaping.
The social and medical costs borne by taxpayers are enormous.
My mother was a victim of nicotine addiction. So are many of my relatives. By the time she gathered enough determination to quit smoking, my mother
was too frail and she succumbed to respiratory failure in her
early 60s.
Sadly, my brother-in-law also succumbed to a nicotine-related disease in his 30s.
Too many of my friends, who are in their 40s and above, have been battling nicotine-related ailments for years.
Most of them attempted not once but many times to quit smoking but, somehow, the craving was too strong for them.
A friend even resorted to a prescribed drug, Bupropion, to kick the addiction but managed to do so only for a few months.
Recently, I helped my nephew to withdraw 30 per cent of his retirement fund to settle his medical bills incurred in Guangzhou, China.
He had advanced stage bowel cancer.
Smoking not only caused him to suffer cancer but also ruined his oral health, which resulted in him losing his teeth.
Instead of enjoying the fruits of his years of hard work far away from home, he is battling uncertainty and a dreadful disease. I am sad to see him in such a predicament.
As a school dropout at 13, I worked in construction for a few years before embarking on another career path.
An extremely high percentage of young construction workers fall victim to nicotine addiction due to peer influence.
Even though I had little education and knowledge, I was wise enough to know the harmful effects of nicotine.
Although I am about to celebrate my 60th birthday soon, my health is my biggest asset. I don’t need medication and I enjoy an active retired life.
Unfortunately, many of my friends have been addicted to nicotine for years.
They have to rely on daily doses of medication to keep them going while some require admission to treat their acute ailments.
Their sufferings have not only affected their lives but also that of their loved ones.
I urge youngsters to not be tempted to take a puff or try vaping to appear cool and trendy.
For those who smoke, quit now before it is too late.
n PATRICK TEH, Ipoh, Perak