Alrai had previously published an article about the high percentage of Jordanian smokers of various ages compared to smoking rates in countries around the world, and we were among the first in this field, unfortunately!
Thank you, Your Excellency the Prime Minister, for this keenness on the health of our children and those in their youth and adolescence, and we hope that those concerned will circulate this directive to all our schools—from kindergarten to elementary, high school, and perhaps university, regardless of their different educational paths—to seriously and generally begin monitoring pupils and students, and holding classes, lectures, and meetings for male and female students conducted by specialists who explain the components of tobacco and its harms, supported by pictures, statistics, and the catastrophic outcomes that will befall body parts due to smoking.
Smoking harms bodily health, not to mention its prices whose papers burn with every lighting of a cigarette! It is also a waste of time and effort in vain, and a distraction of thoughts that may lead to mistakes and loss.
Here we ask: Is it possible to second teachers from schools to attend specialized courses on the harms of smoking to human health, so that they in turn take charge of conveying and explaining what they heard to their students in classes through the curriculum, while conducting tests for the students?
Emphasizing the prohibition of those under eighteen from buying cigarettes is an excellent decision. However, qualifying these prohibited individuals not to smoke while they are young, like engraving on stone, is the most important thing. Treat it with that which was the disease!
Banning is a great thing and will serve its purpose in reducing the percentage of smokers at this age and below, but laying the foundation by demonstrating its harms is the core.
As for the most important of the important, which no decree can reach, it is the family; the mother and father are the most important in this field, and perhaps sisters and brothers as well. Adults smoking in front of youngsters suggests that this process contributes to showing maturity and manhood for men and completeness for women. We have come to see some of them smoking hookahs and blowing smoke from their mouths in homes and cafes, with children around them inhaling its poisons and looking with admiration at whoever smokes it. So let us start with the adults first.
Monitoring and advice, and even firmness when necessary, are what contribute to cutting off the addiction to this bad plant, which is tobacco in all its types.
