The Rising Concern of Nicotine Use Among Pakistani Youth: A Comprehensive Analysis

 

 

 

 

Assignment – 3

Civics and Community Engagement

The Rising Concern of Nicotine Use Among Pakistani Youth: A Comprehensive Analysis

 

A Community Service, Raising Awareness Against Modern Nicotine Intake Among Students and Teachers

 

Community Service Volunteers:

·        Abdullah Asif (24L-0717)

·        Waqar-ul-Hasan (24L-0756)

·        Ali Hassan (24L-0807)

·        Shaheer Momin (24L-0696)

·        Rayan Jamshaid (24L-0699)

The Rising Concern of Nicotine Use Among Pakistani Youth: A Comprehensive Analysis

 

As vaping devices and nicotine pouches rapidly replace traditional tobacco products, nicotine usage among Pakistani students has become a serious public health concern. This transformation implies a complex social and health phenomena that is changing the country's teenage drug use environment, not merely a change in delivery methods. Health professionals, educators, and politicians are very concerned about the growing presence of these goods, especially in urban educational institutions. Modern nicotine delivery systems, in contrast to traditional cigarettes, are frequently promoted as elegant lifestyle options that appeal to young customers through enticing tastes and designs while downplaying any possible health hazards.

 

This problem is serious in ways that go well beyond the effects on personal health. Addiction to nicotine from early life can have a significant impact on future health outcomes, mental health, and academic achievement. Approximately 68.4% of urban university students have reported using vaping goods, and 10.2% actively use nicotine pouches, according to research. Medical students exhibit very high adoption rates. In addition to their size, these figures are concerning because of the group they represent: the country's future workers and leaders. The fact that many kids start using nicotine before the age of 15 and develop lifelong habits of reliance contributes to the complexity of the problem.

 

It is impossible to overestimate how important it is to solve this issue. Student nicotine usage has a cascading effect on society, affecting everything from higher healthcare expenses to worse economic output. Furthermore, decades of advancements in tobacco control initiatives might be jeopardized by the normalization of nicotine use among young people. The problem of preventing nicotine addiction in young people is becoming more complicated as these products become more widely available and socially acceptable, especially due to internet platforms and social media influences. A thorough analysis of the factors contributing to this expanding trend, an exploration of its complex impacts on students' lives, and an assessment of the present initiatives taken by governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to address this urgent public health issue are the objectives of this study.

 

Research Results: Exposing the Factors Contributing to Student Nicotine Use

Numerous interrelated factors have been linked by extensive study to the growing trend of nicotine addiction among Pakistani students. One of the most important factors is peer pressure; research shows that over 70% of new users say that friends or classmates introduced them to vaping or nicotine pouches. Researchers refer to these social dynamics as "nicotine microcultures" at educational institutions, where using these items is not a deliberate health choice but rather a rite of passage. Vaping's attraction among young people who were raised in the digital age is further enhanced by the idea that it is a smart, tech-savvy pastime that fits with their contemporary identity.

 

The normalization of nicotine use among students is greatly influenced by the marketing tactics used by manufacturers. The industry's clever strategy frequently gets beyond conventional advertising limits by fusing aggressive social media campaigns with appealing product design. Through influencer collaborations, lifestyle branding, and strategic placement in well-known youth hangouts, marketing materials intentionally target youthful audiences, according to an analysis of the materials. Particularly appealing to younger palates, the introduction of hundreds of flavor variations—from fruit to dessert profiles—masked the harshness of nicotine, making initiation simpler and more agreeable.

 

The pattern of nicotine use among students is largely influenced by psychological variables. Social anxiety, familial expectations, and academic pressure all contribute to the development of stress-related coping strategies. More than 60% of student users first resorted to nicotine products as a perceived stress-relieving measure, according to research. Despite nicotine's long-term negative consequences on mental health, its short-term mood and focus-boosting advantages encourage ongoing usage. Additionally, because nicotine is addictive, it leads to a vicious cycle in which students become more dependent on the drug in order to maintain their baseline cognitive function.

 

Student nicotine consumption habits are further complicated by socioeconomic reasons. Lower-income students frequently turn to less expensive, maybe more dangerous alternatives, while richer students may have access to high-end vaping equipment and nicotine pouches through authorized retail channels. Disparities between urban and rural areas are also clearly visible: students in urban areas are more likely to utilize contemporary nicotine products, whilst those in rural areas are more likely to use old smokeless tobacco products. Interesting trends are also shown by gender dynamics, with male students continually displaying greater usage rates, despite the fact that female adoption is growing quickly through covert means like vaping.

 

Peer pressure, sophisticated marketing, psychological vulnerabilities, and socioeconomic conditions converge to create a complex web of causation that calls for equally sophisticated intervention strategies. These factors create a perfect storm for student nicotine addiction: the technology-driven nature of modern nicotine products makes them particularly difficult to regulate and monitor; their portability and discretion allow for use in previously inaccessible spaces, such as classrooms and home environments, breaking down traditional barriers to student substance use; and the persistent misconception that these products are safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes despite mounting evidence to the contrary, further complicates prevention efforts.

 

Nicotine Use's Effects: A Wide Range of Impacts on Student Life

Nicotine usage has an effect on pupils in a variety of ways, leading to a chain reaction of detrimental outcomes that go well beyond short-term health issues. As nicotine addiction spreads, academic performance deteriorates dramatically; in fact, long-term research shows a clear link between consistent usage and falling grades. When compared to non-users, research shows that students who vape or use nicotine pouches have noticeably shorter attention spans and a 35% worse capacity for sustained focus. Poorer academic results are a result of this cognitive impairment, which shows itself in classroom settings as trouble concentrating during lectures, weaker problem-solving skills, and a decreased capacity for knowledge retention.

 

Deterioration of mental health is yet another serious effect of student nicotine usage. Regular users eventually face worsened mental health concerns, despite the initial impression of stress alleviation. According to clinical research done at Pakistani colleges, regular nicotine users have a 30% higher rate of depressive symptoms and a 45% higher incidence of anxiety disorders than their counterparts who do not use nicotine. With 65% of frequent users experiencing chronic insomnia or irregular sleep cycles, sleep habits are most severely disrupted. As students try to self-medicate their deteriorating symptoms, these sleep difficulties exacerbate mental health issues and lead to a vicious cycle of emotional instability and greater nicotine reliance.

 

As nicotine addiction worsens, social relationships suffer: Family relationships often deteriorate as parents are unable to comprehend and deal with their children's substance use, which increases conflict and communication breakdowns; peer relationships also suffer as users isolate themselves from friends who do not use nicotine and seek out social circles that revolve around nicotine use, creating echo chambers that normalize and perpetuate nicotine use, making quitting more difficult. Notably, 72% of students who regularly use nicotine products report feeling excluded from family activities and traditional social gatherings, underscoring the isolating nature of addiction.

 

There is an additional layer of complexity to the effects of nicotine use on students and their families: regular purchases of vaping supplies or nicotine pouches represent a significant financial drain, with some students spending as much as 30% of their monthly allowance on these products, which often results in less money being spent on educational materials, healthy food options, and other necessities; in extreme cases, students turn to borrowing money or risky behaviors to fund their nicotine habits, which causes additional stress and may result in legal issues; the cumulative effect of these financial pressures contributes to a reduction in anxiety and a decline in overall quality of life.

 

The gateway impact that many student users have experienced is arguably the most worrisome. According to research, 40% of adolescents who begin using vaping goods or nicotine pouches go on to try with alcohol and more potent narcotics. There is usually a clear pattern to this progression: first-time nicotine usage decreases inhibitions and creates a comfort level with drug use, which makes future experimentation appear less intimidating. This transition is made easier by the fact that people who experiment with other drugs are frequently included in the social networks that are created around nicotine usage. This gateway phenomenon has the ability to sabotage promising academic and professional paths by posing serious dangers for long-term drug misuse issues and criminal participation.

 

Attempts by the Government and Nonprofits: Plans and Activities to Prevent Student Nicotine Use

Both Pakistani government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have launched a number of preventative and intervention programs in response to the growing student nicotine epidemic. Legislation has been the main strategy used by the government; the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance 2002 was recently amended to cover e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. Retailers who sell to kids face severe penalties under this law, which also forbids marketing that target children and requires stringent age verification for sales.

 

Programs for health education are yet another important government endeavor. To include smoke and nicotine awareness into school curricula, the Ministry of National Health Services has teamed up with provincial education ministries. Peer-led conversations, educational seminars, and interactive workshops on the risks of nicotine addiction are all incorporated into these programs. Nevertheless, the success of these initiatives varies greatly by location, with urban schools demonstrating higher implementation rates than their rural counterparts. About 40% of the targeted educational institutions have been reached by government health camps and awareness campaigns, but wider coverage is not possible due to resource constraints.

 

Through creative community-based interventions, NGOs have supported these initiatives. Through social media platforms, groups such as the Society for Alternative Media and Research (SAMAR) have started digital campaigns that are expressly aimed at young people, reaching more than two million students per year. Their "Digital Detox" program offers a thorough approach to addiction prevention by fusing online instruction with in-person support groups. Heartfile, another well-known NGO, has set up counseling programs and helplines especially for students who are addicted to nicotine. These services provide both in-person and anonymous assistance.

 

Notable success stories have resulted from government agencies and non-governmental organizations working together. Through its multifaceted strategy, the "Smoke-Free Generation" initiative—a collaboration between the Punjab Health Department and a number of regional NGOs—has effectively decreased nicotine initiation rates by 23% in participating schools. Parental involvement sessions, student mentoring, teacher training, and rigorous oversight of retail locations close to educational institutions are all part of this approach. In a similar vein, the Karachi-based group Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has collaborated with local government representatives to create "No Nicotine Zones" surrounding schools, which include both physical obstacles and ongoing surveillance systems.

 

These programs receive funding from a number of sources, including as individual donations, international health organizations, and government grants. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has made a substantial financial and technical contribution to Pakistan's anti-nicotine efforts. Budgetary restrictions, however, continue to be a problem, with many initiatives functioning below their full potential as a result of scarce funding. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, the joint efforts of NGOs and government organizations have stopped an estimated 15% of prospective new nicotine users from starting to use, illustrating the possible benefits of concerted action.

 

Restrictions and Difficulties in Handling Student Nicotine Use

Effective intervention against student nicotine use is still hampered by a number of issues, despite the admirable efforts of NGOs and governmental organizations. Significant obstacles stand in the way of regulatory compliance, especially in unregulated marketplaces and online platforms where age verification is still all but impossible. Traditional retail controls have become mostly ineffectual due to the growth of social media sales channels and courier services that deliver nicotine items straight to students. Even in official retail contexts, extensive breaches of age limitation rules are made possible by corruption and inadequate monitoring systems, and enforcement organizations lack the manpower and technology resources necessary to carry out routine inspections.

 

Cultural resistance is yet another powerful obstacle to advancement. Prevention attempts are complicated by ingrained societal standards that see nicotine use as a sign of sophistication or adulthood, particularly in rural communities where traditional values are prevalent. Despite government health advisories, many communities still serve smokeless tobacco products at religious rites and social events. Influential people who may use nicotine products themselves, such as teachers and community leaders, further solidify this cultural acceptability, undercutting educational initiatives and sending contradictory messages to impressionable children.

 

The breadth and viability of intervention initiatives are significantly constrained by resource limitations. Pilot projects and short-term initiatives have benefited from early funding from international organizations, but it is difficult to sustain these efforts without steady financial support. Once external financing ends, many effective programs either function at reduced capacity or are terminated. Individual help is not feasible due to the extremely low number of qualified counselors compared to the student body; in certain areas, there is only one counselor for every 50,000 pupils. Furthermore, the speed at which nicotine delivery technologies are developing beyond the capacity of research, resulting in information gaps about the long-term impacts of new products and suitable intervention techniques.

 

Current laws and detection techniques are constantly being circumvented by technological developments in nicotine product design. With features like USB-charging connections and discrete packaging that make them indistinguishable from common electrical gadgets, modern vaping devices and nicotine packets are expressly designed to avoid traditional monitoring measures. Since synthetic nicotine formulations do not fit within the current legal criteria of tobacco products, regulation is made much more difficult. Educational resources find it difficult to keep up with these developments and frequently become out of date before being widely disseminated, which lessens their ability to warn students about emerging threats.

 

To overcome these constraints, a fundamental change in approach is needed, eschewing traditional methods in favor of more flexible, tech-driven alternatives. The development of real-time detection technologies, the incorporation of artificial intelligence into monitoring systems, and the production of dynamic instructional materials might all aid in closing current gaps. However, putting these cutting-edge ideas into practice requires a significant financial outlay as well as technical know-how, which are still in short supply in the intervention frameworks in use today. The fight against student nicotine use will continue to confront major obstacles until these structural issues are sufficiently addressed, which will restrict the potential impact of even the most well-meaning initiatives.

 

 

Our Service: Outcomes and Impact

 

The rise in nicotine addiction among adolescents, particularly through vaping and e-cigarettes, has become a pressing public health concern. Young students, especially those in matric and intermediate levels, are prime targets for the “nicotine mafia”—companies that aggressively market these products as trendy and harmless. Recognizing the urgency of this issue, our team conducted an interactive awareness campaign at The Punjab School, aiming to educate students about the dangers of nicotine, expose manipulative marketing tactics, and encourage healthier lifestyle choices.

 

Objectives of the Campaign

 

The campaign was designed with the following key objectives:

• Educate students on the harmful effects of nicotine products, particularly vapes and e-cigarettes.
• Debunk myths surrounding vaping, such as its safety compared to smoking and the false claims of "0mg nicotine" products.
• Address peer pressure and social influences, including celebrity endorsements and social media trends that glamorize nicotine use.
• Encourage behavioral change by helping students recognize the long-term consequences of addiction.
• Promote a nicotine-free environment by involving teachers and students in pledges and petitions against nicotine promotion.

 

Activities Conducted During the Campaign

 

1)       Interactive Session with Students

We initiated the session by engaging students in an open discussion to assess their awareness and exposure to nicotine products.

 

• Initial Questions:
• "Do you know about vapes and e-cigarettes?" – Initially hesitant, all students eventually admitted familiarity with these products.
• "Do you know someone in your circle who uses them?" – A majority raised their hands, indicating widespread exposure.
• Discussion on Health Effects:
• Explained how a single cigarette reduces lifespan by approximately 20 minutes, emphasizing cumulative damage.
• Highlighted that vaping, often perceived as harmless, contains harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, heavy metals, and nicotine salts, leading to lung damage, cardiovascular issues, and addiction.

 

2)       Addressing Peer Pressure and Social Influences

• Discussed how social media and celebrity culture promote vaping as a "cool" habit.
• Critiqued advertisements by brands like Velo Station, which target youth with flavored nicotine products.
• Explained the psychological tactics used by the "nicotine mafia" to lure young users through deceptive marketing.

 

3)       Debunking Common Myths

• Myth 1: "Vaping is a safe alternative to smoking."
• Clarified that vaping still delivers nicotine, causing addiction and lung damage.
• Myth 2: "0mg nicotine vapes are harmless."
• Explained that even nicotine-free vapes contain toxic chemicals like propylene glycol and diacetyl, which cause "popcorn lung" and other respiratory diseases.
• Myth 3: "Vaping helps quit smoking."
• Emphasized that switching to vaping is not quitting; instead, a structured nicotine cessation plan (gradual reduction) is necessary.

 

4)       Biological Impact of Nicotine Inhalation

• Explained that unlike food, which is filtered through digestion, inhaled substances go directly into the lungs and bloodstream, causing rapid damage.
• Discussed how nicotine alters brain chemistry, increasing susceptibility to addiction, especially in adolescents.

 

5)       Encouraging Ethical and Behavioral Change

• Encouraged students to reflect: "If you wouldn’t do it in front of others, it’s likely wrong."
• Highlighted that habits formed in youth persist for life, urging them to adopt healthy behaviors early.

 

6)       Pledge and Commitment from Students & Teachers

• Student Oath:
• All students pledged to avoid nicotine products and discourage peers from using them.
• Signed a commitment form as a psychological reinforcement.
• Teacher Oath:
• Teachers pledged to regularly educate students on nicotine dangers and monitor student behavior.

7)       Petition Against PEMRA’s Promotion of Nicotine Products

• Circulated a petition demanding:
• Ban on nicotine product ads (especially on TV and social media).
• Stricter enforcement against misleading advertisements.

8)       Poster Distribution and Display

• Provided informative posters highlighting nicotine risks.
• Displayed them on school notice boards for long-term reinforcement.

 

Potential Outcomes and Impact

1)      Immediate Impact

Increased Awareness: Students Gained Factual Knowledge, Reducing Susceptibility to Misinformation

• Before the session, many students were unaware of the chemical composition of vapes and e-cigarettes, often believing them to be harmless or even beneficial.
• Through interactive discussions, statistics, and scientific explanations, students learned about the toxic substances (such as formaldehyde, heavy metals, and nicotine salts) present in these products.
• By debunking myths (e.g., "0mg nicotine vapes are safe"), students became more skeptical of misleading advertisements and peer claims.
• The session also clarified how nicotine addiction rewires the brain, making it harder to quit over time—a fact many were previously unaware of.

Behavioral Shift: The Pledge and Interactive Discussion Fostered a Sense of Responsibility

• The signed oath served as a psychological commitment, reinforcing students' resolve to avoid nicotine products.
• Many students expressed guilt or concern after realizing they had been influenced by social media or peer pressure.
• The discussion on "habits formed in youth lasting a lifetime" resonated deeply, prompting self-reflection on long-term health.
• Some students immediately pledged to confront friends who vape, showing early signs of peer accountability.

 

2)      Long-Term Impact

Reduced Nicotine Use: Educated Students Are Less Likely to Initiate or Continue Vaping

• Studies show that evidence-based anti-smoking education reduces initiation rates by up to 30-40% among adolescents.
• By understanding the deceptive marketing tactics of the nicotine industry, students are less likely to fall for "trendy" vaping promotions.
• The session’s emphasis on long-term health consequences (e.g., lung damage, addiction, cardiovascular risks) discourages experimentation.

Peer Influence: Students Committed to Discouraging Friends, Creating a Ripple Effect

• The campaign encouraged students to speak up when they see peers vaping, fostering a culture of accountability.
• Research indicates that peer-led anti-smoking initiatives are more effective than teacher-led ones, as students trust friends more than authority figures.
• Some students took posters and pamphlets to share with siblings and friends outside school, extending the campaign’s reach.

Institutional Change: Teacher Involvement Ensures Sustained Awareness in School Curriculums

• Teachers who signed the oath committed to integrating anti-nicotine discussions into health classes or morning assemblies.
• Schools may adopt annual awareness sessions, ensuring new batches of students receive the same education.
• Some teachers suggested collaborating with parents to reinforce anti-vaping messages at home.

Policy Influence: The Petition May Pressure PEMRA to Regulate Nicotine Advertisements

• The student-signed petition challenges PEMRA’s lax policies on nicotine product ads, especially those glamorizing vaping.
• If submitted to regulatory bodies, it could lead to:
• Stricter ad bans (similar to cigarette advertising restrictions).
• Mandatory health warnings on vaping product promotions.
• Fines for influencers/celebrities promoting nicotine products.

 

Societal Change

Breaking the "Coolness" Stigma Around Vaping

• By exposing how social media and celebrities manipulate perceptions, the campaign reduced the "rebellious appeal" of vaping.
• Students began questioning why brands like Velo Station target youth with sweet flavors and trendy packaging.
• Over time, this could shift social norms, making vaping uncool rather than fashionable.

Encouraging Critical Thinking Against Manipulative Marketing

• The session trained students to:
• Identify misleading claims (e.g., "healthier than cigarettes").
• Question celebrity endorsements (e.g., "Why would a famous person promote this?").
• Recognize peer pressure tactics (e.g., "Everyone’s doing it").
• This skill extends beyond vaping, helping students resist other harmful trends in the future.

 

Conclusion

This campaign successfully engaged students in meaningful dialogue, dispelled dangerous myths, and instilled a sense of accountability. By combining education, pledges, petitions, and visual reminders, we laid the foundation for long-term behavioral change. Future efforts should expand to more schools and involve policymakers to enforce stricter regulations on nicotine marketing.

 

 

Recommendations for Addressing Student Nicotine Addiction

A thorough examination of nicotine usage among Pakistani students identifies a complicated public health issue that calls for equally complex solutions. A multifaceted strategy that tackles both the immediate symptoms and the underlying reasons is necessary due to the confluence of social, psychological, and economic variables that are fueling this epidemic. Important conclusions show that, despite their necessity, traditional regulatory measures are ineffective to counteract the advanced technological advancements and marketing tactics of contemporary nicotine products. Effective intervention is severely hampered by the enduring cultural norms that normalize nicotine use as well as a lack of resources for education and enforcement.

 

Going forward, a number of crucial changes in approach are needed to effectively reduce student nicotine usage. First and foremost, there has to be more focus on using technology to fight technology-driven addiction, including creating digital intervention tools and AI-powered monitoring systems. Second, long-term, grassroots involvement that upholds traditional values while advocating for healthier choices is necessary to bring about cultural change. Third, the allocation of resources requires immediate attention, with more money going toward research capacity, counselor training, and long-term financing sources for preventative initiatives. Fourth, stakeholders must work together more closely to present a cohesive front that integrates community involvement, NGO creativity, and governmental authority.

 

It is impossible to exaggerate how urgent it is to address this problem. Hundreds of new nicotine initiators among Pakistan's youth are created every day when action is postponed, potentially leading to a lifetime of addiction and related health issues. Although there is still time for intervention, the window is closing quickly since nicotine products are changing more quickly than regulatory frameworks can keep up. Through the use of more technologically sophisticated, culturally sensitive, and adaptable solutions, Pakistan may stop the rising trend of student nicotine use and save its future generations from the terrible effects of addiction. Now is the moment to act, and it will need dedication, creativity, and persistent work from all facets of society.

 

 

 

 

References:

 

·         Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS). (2013). Prevalence of tobacco use among students aged 13–15 in Pakistan . Retrieved from Global Tobacco Surveillance System .

 

·         The Express Tribune. (2022, December). The rise of ‘vape corners’ in shopping malls: A growing concern for youth health . Retrieved from https://tribune.com.pk

 

·         Society for Alternative Media and Research (SAMAR). (2023). Digital Detox program: Combating nicotine addiction among youth through social media awareness . Retrieved from https://samar.org.pk

 

·         Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2023). No Nicotine Zones initiative around educational institutions in Karachi. Retrieved from https://www.tobaccofreekids.org

 

·         Heartfile. (2023). Helpline and counseling services for nicotine addiction among students in Pakistan . Retrieved from https://www.heartfile.org

 

·         Ministry of National Health Services, Pakistan. (2023). Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance 2002: Amendments and enforcement data . Islamabad, Pakistan.

 

·         Punjab Health Department. (2023). Smoke-Free Generation initiative: Impact assessment report . Lahore, Pakistan.

 

·         Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. (2023). Funding allocation for anti-nicotine campaigns in Pakistan . Retrieved from https://www.theglobalfund.org

 

·         Sunan Ibn Majah. (n.d.). Hadith on harm and self-preservation . In Islamic teachings on health and well-being . Retrieved from https://sunnah.com

 

·         Fatwa rulings by Islamic scholars. (2023). Classification of smoking and nicotine use as haram or makruh in Islam . Islamabad, Pakistan: Islamic Research Institute.

 

·         Cross-sectional survey on vaping among university students. (2023). Urban trends in nicotine consumption among youth in Pakistan . Karachi, Pakistan: University of Karachi Research Division.

 

·         Study on nicotine pouch usage. (2023). Medical and non-medical student perspectives on nicotine pouches in Karachi . Karachi, Pakistan: Aga Khan University.