The OP of the Russian Federation discussed plans to combat teenage smoking

The Public Chamber of the Russian Federation (PCRF) hosted a round table "Partnership between parents, teachers, the public and NGOs to prevent teenage smoking: plans for 2025". Its participants discussed specific joint measures aimed at preventing and combating smoking among teenagers. This was reported by the organizers of the event - the commissions of the OP of the Russian Federation on the development of the non-profit sector, as well as on education and upbringing, the Coordination Council under the OP of the Russian Federation on the maintenance and development of norms of a healthy lifestyle among Russian citizens.

The problem cannot be solved solely by parents, teachers or mentors, who, of course, play a huge role in the upbringing of children, here it is necessary to unite the efforts of all those who are around minors on their way to adulthood, emphasized Elena Topoleva-Soldunova, Chairman of the Commission of the Russian Federation OP Commission for the Development of the Non-Profit Sector. She emphasized the importance of discussing how public control will be exercised over preventing teenagers' access to any nicotine-containing and tobacco products.

"A very big legislative work is underway in order to fight this problem - in 2023, a bill on banning the sale of vape products to minors was prepared and adopted," reminded Alexander Spiridonov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Industry and Trade, Chairman of the regional public movement "Council of Fathers of the Arkhangelsk region". At the same time, he said, such products remain accessible to minors. He called for united efforts in the fight against smoking. He noted that parents do not always know how to tell their children about the harm of smoking, so it is necessary to intensify efforts to prepare methodological materials for teachers.

According to Alexander Spiridonov, such work should be aimed at creating materials that are directly accessible to parents and teachers, which can be used during lectures on the harm of smoking, as well as surrounding minors with such information in a language accessible to them in the cities through the medium of social advertising.

During the event, the Arkhangelsk Region Fathers' Council signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Public Council on Teenage Smoking within the framework of the project "It is important not to start!" aimed at raising awareness and active involvement of parents and teachers in the process of teenage smoking prevention.

Anna Sorochinskaya, Executive Director of the Council, noted that the development of this project, which will be implemented in 2025 in 9 regions of the country, is focused on realizing the actual need for informational materials in various formats.

"According to the results of our recent survey in a number of Russian regions, 86% of teachers and 73% of parents stated the need for additional knowledge and visual materials for interaction with teenagers on the problem of smoking", - emphasized Anna Sorochinskaya.

She also noted the need to unite the efforts of the public, teachers, parents and authorities to solve the problem of smoking among minors.

According to Natalia Sanina, chairman of the Association of doctors and therapists of related specialties of the Moscow region, chairman of the Coordination Council on health care at the Moscow regional branch of the "Union of Women of Russia", the preservation of the share of adult consumers of tobacco and nicotine-containing products at the distance of recent years reflects the tendency to circumvent the current restrictions, their general ineffectiveness.

"Therefore, the way to really limit the access of minors to nicotine-containing products can be the formation of a community of doctors, teachers, psychologists and parents who will have sufficient information about the harm of smoking, formulated in clear language and containing practical recommendations on leading a healthy lifestyle. Their implementation of prevention work can influence the strategic goal of reducing the proportion of smokers in our country," she said.

"Information on ways to prevent minors' access to tobacco and nicotine-containing products should be available to everyone - teachers, parents, and a wide range of adults and minors through the medium of social advertising, so that the value of leading a healthy lifestyle is embedded from the earliest childhood", noted during the event Olga Zaeva, head of the department of prevention of deviant behavior of minors FGBU "Center for the Protection of Children's Rights and Interests".