AMONGST our youth, mindless ignorance has spread lil(e wildfire, where following any orevery trendis considered a sacred duty. No matter how senseless the trend may be, it is still followed to uphold a fal(e sense ofrespect and to be acceptable among peers. One such malaise is vaping and nicotine pouches. According to a recent survey, the use of vapes and nicotine pouches among school-going children aged 10-16 years is higher than cigarette smoking.
It is unfortunate that shopkeepers sell such toxic elements to underage children without any action by the government.
Although such activities may seem like ‘fun’, nicotine is highly addictive and can harm the development of brain as well asdamage lungs and heart. Nicotine pouches can irritate gums, increase blood pressure and pose cardiovascular risl(. Aggressive marketing strategies by unethical companies seem to be working as the consumption of these drugs is spreading exponentially across the country. Owing to societal pressures, whoever does not indulge in such harmful activities is seen as either a ‘coward’ or ‘weal(‘. This needs to change, and change quickly.
Saflullah Faisal Sheil(hupura