{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1758354,
        "msgid": "indonesia-faces-youth-smoking-emergency-as-5-million-children-become-active-smokers-1779541979",
        "date": "2026-05-22 18:50:00",
        "title": "Indonesia Faces Youth Smoking Emergency as 5 Million Children Become Active Smokers",
        "author": "Reynaldi Andrian Pamungkas",
        "source": "MEDIA_INDONESIA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Regulation",
        "summary": "Indonesia faces a public health challenge as 5 million children aged 10-18 are active smokers, according to BPOM data. Regulators warn of rising electronic cigarette use, expand cross-sector oversight, and tighten nicotine and tar controls, while emphasising that health safety is non-negotiable and calling for stronger enforcement and regulation.",
        "content": "<p>Head of the National Agency for Drug and Food Control (BPOM), Taruna\nIkrar, said Indonesia is currently in an emergency over novice smokers.\nEarly-age children are increasingly becoming active smokers. According\nto BPOM data, the prevalence among children and adolescents aged 10-18\nwho smoke actively reaches 7.4%, equating to more than 5 million\nchildren in Indonesia. \u2018The use of electronic cigarettes has also risen\ndue to harm-reduction narratives promoted by industry players. Yet there\nis no conclusive evidence that electronic cigarettes are safer than\nconventional cigarettes,\u2019 Ikrar said in a statement on Friday (22 May).\nHe emphasised that electronic cigarettes still contain addictive\nsubstances such as nicotine, toxicants, and carcinogens that can trigger\ndependence and harm health. In some cases, vape devices are also misused\nas a medium for the use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) and other\ndangerous substances. \u2018Surveillance of electronic cigarette products\ncannot be partial; it must be comprehensive and integrated across\nsectors,\u2019 he said. To strengthen the surveillance system, BPOM has\nissued BPOM Regulation Number 18 on the Supervision of Tobacco and\nElectronic Cigarette Products and BPOM Regulation Number 19 of 2025 on\nGuidelines for Follow-Up of the Results of Supervision of Medicines and\nAddictive Substances. In addition to regulation, BPOM has also run a\npilot project supervising tobacco products and electronic cigarettes in\nvarious regions of Indonesia throughout 2025. The results indicated that\ncompliance with the latest provisions still needs improvement,\nespecially regarding the protection of children and adolescents. \u2018To\nsupport more modern and integrated surveillance, BPOM is developing\nBPOM-WATCH (Web-based Application for Tobacco Control Hub) as a digital\nreporting system to strengthen monitoring of business operators\u2019\ncompliance in a more accountable way,\u2019 Ikrar explained. The government\nis strengthening standardisation and limiting nicotine and tar levels,\nboosting laboratory testing capacity, and increasing cross-sector\ncollaboration and integrity of public health policy. \u2018Public safety and\nhealth are the highest priority that cannot be negotiated,\u2019 he asserted.\nMeanwhile, the Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Narcotics\nLaboratory Centre, Supiyanto, revealed that narcotics abuse via vape\ndevices has occurred massively in Indonesia. He said the modus operandi\nincludes clandestine labs and illicit distribution networks with the\nyoung generation as the primary targets. \u2018The state must urgently\nintervene to stop the exploitation of vape as the main tool for\nnarcotics abuse by banning the circulation of vape in Indonesia,\u2019\nSupiyanto stated. From an academic perspective, Ni Made Dian Kurniasari\nof the Faculty of Medicine at Udayana University presented a study on\nadolescents\u2019 perceptions of packaging and the appeal of electronic\ncigarettes. She assessed that packaging design, flavour variety, and\npromotional strategies are key factors drawing youths to use vaping.\nTherefore, she urged strengthening regulations on advertising,\npromotion, sales, and standardisation of electronic cigarette packaging\nto reduce its appeal to children and adolescents. \u2018There needs to be\nstronger communication, information, and education so that young people\nunderstand that electronic cigarettes are not a lifestyle symbol,\u2019 she\nconcluded. (Iam) Tjandra Yoga Aditama (PDPI) explained why Ramadan is\nthe best time to quit smoking. See seven medical tips to break the\naddiction. Active smoking and second-hand smoke have been proven to\ntrigger serious diseases, for both smokers and those around them.\nCurrently, Sampoerna\u2019s smoke-free product partnership programme has\ninvolved more than 600 local SMEs across 20 cities in Indonesia. Gum\ninflammation and tooth loss are common problems among active smokers.\nSmoking can weaken the supporting tissues and periodontal tissue.\nCigarettes not only kill active smokers but also threaten the lives of\npassive smokers who inhale the smoke. Even if they do not smoke, they\nare exposed to toxic substances that trigger disease. BPOM has\nofficially issued PerBPOM 5\/2026 to monitor the sale of over-the-counter\nmedicines in supermarkets and minimarkets to ensure safety and quality\nof products for the public. BPOM Denpasar has uncovered illicit\ndistribution of dangerous medicines in Bali, disguising Trihexyphenidyl\ntablets in the packaging of cattle vitamin B Complex. BPOM and BNN have\nlong cooperated and can continue to collaborate, including on vape\nmisuse issues. This regulation governs the management of medicines in\ntwo categories of facilities: pharmaceutical service facilities and\nother facilities. This medicine has officially obtained marketing\napproval from BPOM for the indication of erosive esophagitis (erosive\nesophagitis\/EE). Copyright \u00a9 2026 Media Group - mediaindonesia. All\nRights Reserved<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-faces-youth-smoking-emergency-as-5-million-children-become-active-smokers-1779541979",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}