CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–The Department of Education (DepEd)-10 has made some significant moves to prioritize its comprehensive Tobacco Control Program with three serious bans namely absolute smoking ban in schools and offices of DepEd, absolute selling ban within 100 meters of each DepEd schools in the region and ban on sponsorships from tobacco industries.
Dr. Myra Yee, medical officer of DepEd-10. shared in Talakayan sa PIA, a media forum, that they are very serious about the health of their learners and that they have trained tobacco coordinators in all 14 divisions in the region to address tobacco use among adolescents.
“We know that crucial kaayo ang atong mga learners or children sa adolescent period, nga pwede sila ma-prone sa tanang klaseng addiction, that includes tobacco. And ma-alter na dayon ilang brain receptors, not just cigarettes but with e-cigarettes. Crucial time sa adolescents 10-19 years old,” she said.
(We know that adolescence for our learners and children is very crucial, that they can be prone to all kinds of addiction, that includes tobacco. And then some brain receptors can be altered, not just cigarettes but with e-cigarettes. This is a crucial time for adolescents is from 10-19 years old)
For the ‘No Smoking Month,’ the department has involved the learners in their social media campaign in posting videos, and questions of use of tobacco and e-cigarettes and vape and they will be answered honestly and objectively by the trained personnel on tobacco control.
Aside from a comprehensive tobacco control program, DepEd also implements its National Drug Addiction program to cover not just smoking but substance abuse, and alcoholism.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ignacio Cagang, dentist III of DepEd-10, said adolescents who engage in smoking and substance abuse are usually caused by family problems and no guidance from parents.
“That is why we see to it that we also have a program, regarding orienting the parents, to handle their learners, sons and daughters at a certain age because the kids are all really experimenting at this age. Sometimes they don’t have a shoulder to cry on or somebody to talk to. They only have small problems but they take it seriously,” Cagang shared.
Drinking of liquors is a gateway to addiction or substance abuse. Cagang said all addicts started with drinking alcohol and smoking. It goes with the flow; it would lead to substance abuse. That is why early stage drinking of hard liquor and smoking is being counteracted at DepEd, he explained.
The adolescent brain is not fully matured, said Yee. From 10-19 years old, this is where the adolescent’s brain would be so curious, impulsive and would take risks.
“We are trying to make them look into different activities to avoid tobacco, alcohol and substance abuse because it is possible. Our focus with them is their education, and activities that will help them develop healthy habits like sports. In DepEd, we have Palarong Pambansa, so that their energies and focus will be on their sports,” Yee said. (JMOR/PIA-10)
Photo release:
Department of Education-10 shares their comprehensive Tobacco Control Program to address tobacco use among adolescent learners in Talakayan sa PIA, media forum at SM City Cagayan de Oro. (JAKA/PIA-10)
