Smoking in Malaysia: Early Initiation and Ways to Overcome

Abstract

Smoking is a public health problem worldwide and in Malaysia. According to time series data in Malaysia, smoking is initiated at a younger age and the prevalence of smoking in Malaysia among adults and adolescents have not been reduced much over the years. Smoking has a detrimental heath effect to smokers as well as those passively smoking. Smoking at younger age is linked to increased dependence of nicotine and many other high-risk behaviours. The objective of this review was to describe the factors which contribute to the smoking initiation at younger age, issues regarding smoking bans and ways to overcome the early smoking initiation in Malaysia. The review was based on expert opinion on the important topics and articles retrieved from Google Scholar. The factors which contribute to smoking initiation at younger age are tobacco factors, school factors, family factors and social factors. Challenges to smoking bans in Malaysia includes poor enforcement and innovation of tobacco products in Malaysia. A comprehensive approach including the MPOWER strategy, which is recommended by the Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (FCTC) should be carried out to address this problem towards achieving Tobacco Endgame.