Danger of 'electronic cigarettes', many high school students have to go to mental hospitals for treatment and addiction treatment

E-cigarettes are infiltrating schools and becoming a nightmare and worry for many families. It is worrying that recently, the number of students being hospitalized due to using e-cigarettes is increasing with many dangerous symptoms such as psychosis, poisoning, hallucinations and it is difficult to completely treat if used for too long and causes addiction.

Teachers "shocked" because students use tobacco

“Just by standing next to me, I can tell which student is using an electronic cigarette. Or just by looking at the status, I can tell if the student is using an electronic cigarette that only contains fruit oil or is using tobacco with banned substances” – that is the affirmation of teacher Van Anh – a teacher teaching at a private high school in Vinh city.

Because she understands her students and sees the serious harm of this danger, at the Provincial Competition for Excellent Homeroom Teachers last school year, teacher Van Anh did not hesitate to choose the topic of preventing the use of new generation cigarettes among high school students at the very school where she is teaching.

Thanh Chuong 3 High School propagates the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes. Photo: NTCC

Sharing about this, teacher Van Anh said: The classes I teach are usually special classes, so the number of students using electronic cigarettes is very large. The harm of new generation cigarettes is so great, but currently this type of cigarette is very easy to buy on the market, used by many students and secretly brought into school. During the process of using, many students still misunderstand the level of harm of these products, thinking that they are safer than traditional cigarettes.

To clarify more about electronic cigarettes, teacher Van Anh shared many pictures, including lighters she received from her students in many different shapes, some like pens, some like USB sticks with wires attached to make it easy to fool parents.

Her phone also contains many messages between the teacher and students and parents, many of the conversations are heartbreaking to read: QC is still smoking e-cigarettes, Mom/Can you find them, Mom? In the trunk or in my bag/The type I just smoked is definitely strong, so I'm still high/...

In another application, under the student’s commitment not to use e-cigarettes, a parent apologized to the homeroom teacher and the school. The parent also shared that he hoped to cooperate with the school in educating and managing his child. If his child reoffends, the family will accept all forms of discipline…

Many "evidences" of e-cigarette use by students at a school in Nghe An . Photo: My Ha

In addition to the above “evidence and evidence”, this female teacher also followed parents and students to drug rehabilitation centers, witnessing students struggling every time they had a craving for drugs. There were students whose health declined after overdosing, and their families had to invite medical staff to check and monitor them. To monitor students, the teacher also did not hesitate to ask relatives to take them to bars, places where students often gather to smoke e-cigarettes.

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The first time I saw students smoking, I was shocked. I think the parents were too. But then I accepted it, because this is what happens in school life.

Many people say that if students violate the rules, they should be severely disciplined, even expelled. But I want to accompany my students and hope that with my knowledge, I can gradually help them realize the danger and give up.

Teacher Van Anh

Too worried about the increasing situation of students using electronic cigarettes, this female teacher also sent her opinion to the authorities.

At the National Assembly session, the delegate of Nghe An delegation also spoke about the current situation and harmful effects of the use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products among teenagers and recommended that the National Assembly include the Law on Amendments and Supplements to a number of articles of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms in the 2024 Law and Ordinance Development Program. Thereby, aiming to control and limit the use of electronic cigarettes and new generation cigarettes.

Struggling to quit smoking

In just over a year, the number of emergency cases or admissions to the Intensive Care and Anti-Poison Department - Nghe An Mental Hospital due to the use of addictive electronic cigarettes has increased.

Most recently, a 12th grade student was taken to the hospital by his family after months of showing signs of serious behavioral disorders. At the time of admission, the student showed unusual symptoms such as irritability, screaming, restlessness, panic, hallucinations, loss of behavioral control, not eating or drinking, and lack of personal hygiene. When admitted for treatment, doctors in the department had to use electrolytes and supplements to help the student return to normal. After his health improved, the student asked to be discharged from the hospital in time for his graduation exam. However, right after the exam, his family had to take him back to the hospital because he had reused an electronic cigarette containing a heavy dose of addictive substances.

A student is quitting e-cigarette addiction at Nghe An Mental Hospital. Photo: My Ha

After many years working at Nghe An Mental Hospital, Dr. Pham Thi Anh - Head of the Department of Emergency, Intensive Care and Anti-Poison is worried that more and more students are using electronic cigarettes.

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There are many different types of e-cigarettes, but the most dangerous are those mixed with addictive substances such as marijuana and weed. Many students can smoke up to 1 pipe/day and be hospitalized in a state of acute poisoning, with drowsiness, rapid pulse, low blood pressure, and sweating profusely. These cases are very difficult to treat and are hard to cure completely because the students are easily lured back after leaving the hospital.

Dr. Pham Thi Anh - Head of the Department of Emergency, Intensive Care and Anti-Poisoning - Nghe An Mental Hospital

Talking about cases of students using e-cigarettes, Dr. Pham Thi Anh was particularly impressed with an 11th grade student in Dien Chau. This patient was admitted to the hospital in a state of addiction to e-cigarettes laced with marijuana for many years, but his parents did not know because they were busy with business and trusted their child.

To have money to use, this male student also lured and sold to his classmates, but besides that, he often asked his family for money to "trick" his parents. Before being hospitalized, this student still went to school and returned home on time.

However, when his parents went to sleep, he would use a rope to climb out of the window and escape, so he could go a long time without being discovered. Currently, after more than a month of treatment, this patient has been discharged from the hospital, but the risk of relapse is still very high. In addition to cutting off all ties, his family had to use a chain to keep him at home and not let him communicate with strangers.

Nghe An students participate in a contest to learn about the Law on Prevention of Tobacco Harms. Photo: My Ha

Not only problem students, Dr. Nguyen Duc Tai - Deputy Head of the Department of Geriatric Pediatrics, Nghe An Psychiatric Hospital said that many students using e-cigarettes are good students, even international students: When exposed to e-cigarettes, they are often lured into thinking that medical marijuana is legal. However, in reality, the type they use is often smuggled, uncontrolled, and can cause hallucinations, paranoia, and psychosis after only a short time of use.

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Teenagers (13-25 years old) are the most common users of e-cigarettes. However, this is also the age of the strongest development. If using e-cigarettes containing essential oils, especially those mixed with cannabis during this period, the risk of brain damage is very high, and once damaged, it is irreversible.

Doctor Nguyen Duc Tai - Deputy Head of Geriatric Pediatrics Department, Nghe An Mental Hospital

In fact, although the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes are very dangerous, many parents still do not fully understand or are not aware of the harmful effects of cigarettes on children. Meanwhile, preventing students from smoking electronic cigarettes in school age is facing many difficulties and if there are no synchronous and drastic solutions, the consequences will be long-lasting.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/hiem-hoa-thuoc-la-dien-tu-nhieu-hoc-sinh-cap-3-phai-vao-vien-tam-than-de-dieu-tri-cai-nghien-10302021.html