Three-Year-Old in Serang City Addicted to Smoking, Picks Up Discarded Cigarette Butts

A three-year-old child in the Kasemen area of Serang City, Banten, is believed to be addicted to smoking. The parents have given up trying to stop the habit themselves and have sought medical assistance. A video shows the child holding a lit cigarette and inhaling the smoke. Voices of several other people can be heard in the video, and instead of stopping the child, they are heard asking the child to exhale the smoke. Lulu Jamaludin, Head of the Fesbuk Banten Shelter, stated that the child’s parents contacted them seeking help but were constrained by financial limitations. ‘The family contacted Fesbuk Banten volunteers for assistance. The parents admitted they have tried to forbid and supervise the child, but have not succeeded. Limited finances also mean the family cannot independently access psychological support services,’ Lulu said on Saturday (18/7/2026). According to Lulu, the child has been addicted to smoking for about three months, initially imitating the behaviour of people around him. ‘The child would pick up still-lit cigarette butts and smoke them. Over time, this became a habit done in secret whenever he found a leftover cigarette butt,’ Lulu explained. Volunteers from Fesbuk Banten, together with the Banten Province Office of Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection, and Family Planning (DP3AKB), visited the child’s home in Kampung Kenari, Kasemen. Officers conducted an initial assessment of the child. ‘The family explained that various efforts have been made to stop the habit, from reprimands and prohibitions to stricter supervision. However, at this early age, the child is in a phase of imitating daily observed behaviours, so the habit persists,’ he said. Lulu stated that his team, along with the relevant agencies, will provide ongoing assistance to help the child recover from smoking dependency. ‘The results of this assessment will form the basis for further assistance, prioritising the best interests of the child’s growth and development,’ he said.