CHILDREN as young as 13 are smoking tobacco, according to Tobacco Community Enforcement Unit manager Maleli Baleiwera.
Mr Baleiwera said the trend reflected how young people were being influenced by what they saw around them, particularly within their households and social environments.
“Our children are watching what we do,” he said.
He said children were more likely to take up smoking when tobacco use was treated as normal behaviour by adults.
“No matter what we preach to them through scriptures or advice about avoiding substance abuse.
“If they see adults normalising the use of addictive substances, they may eventually end up using harmful substances themselves.”
He said the exposure of young children to smoking was a serious concern, especially when it began at primary and early secondary school age.
He said tobacco-free initiatives must go beyond public declarations and be reinforced at household level to prevent early addiction.
“Our message to the community is to roll out this concept at household level as well,” he said.
“It should not only stop at declaring the community hall tobacco-free.”
Once smoking becomes part of a child’s early environment, he said it became more difficult to reverse the behaviour later in life.
“Families play a crucial role in preventing early smoking habits by ensuring children are not exposed to tobacco use at home.
“Communities, religious organisations and schools must work together to discourage the normalisation of tobacco use among young people.”
He said addressing underage smoking required stronger awareness and behavioural change within families and communities across the country.
