Meadowbrook High Marks World No Tobacco Day With NCDA Anti-Vaping Campaign

Roughly 15 per cent of Jamaican teenagers use nicotine, a figure the Ministry of Health and Wellness puts at about 420,000 young people, largely through e-cigarettes and vaping devices.

The National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) carried that warning to Meadowbrook High School in Kingston on World No Tobacco Day, observed under the theme "Unmasking the Appeal, Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction." The ministry department, which focuses on substance misuse and mental health, held edutainment and sensitisation sessions for TEMPLATE students and guests from other schools.

Psychosocial officer Ashara McGowan said many young people believe vaping is safer than cigarettes or marijuana, but the devices contain addictive nicotine and are sold in more than 500 flavours with eye-catching packaging. Presenters told students that peer pressure, social media trends, and stress often drive uptake, and that one vape canister can hold nicotine equivalent to roughly 120 cigarette packs.

Educators outlined health risks including lung disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, cancers, and damage to teeth and skin. They cautioned that the brain keeps developing until about age 26 or 27, and that introducing substances between ages 12 and 18 can slow that growth and affect focus and communication.

The Heart Foundation of Jamaica, secretariat for the Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control, joined the programme. Representatives said the coalition is awaiting the tabling in Parliament of a tobacco control bill, citing industry tactics that target youth. School officials said guidance-led awareness work has helped reduce vaping incidents on campus, though staff noted devices remain cheap and easy for students to obtain.

Performer Brother Gravity, representing St. Mary, reinforced the drug-free lifestyle message through music. Meadowbrook High School student Tiana Ayres also urged peers to avoid vaping. Emotional support dog Pancha was present for students during the event.