6-Year-Old Boy Addicted to Smoking One Pack Every Two Days (Photo Source: Sanjiang Evening News)
China National Radio, Beijing, August 9th - In a certain village of a certain town in Yan County, Leshan Street Market, there is a 6-year-old boy who has become famous far and wide because he is addicted to smoking, shocking everyone. When people mention him, they all shake their heads and sigh: "What a pity, starting to smoke at such a young age, what will become of him in the future?" The child being talked about is named Zhang Qiang (a pseudonym). Although he is not very old, his smoking history spans three years. Due to smoking, the boy, who is still in the developmental stage, appears abnormally obese. If you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, it would be hard to believe that this six-year-old child could smoke so skillfully.
"I haven't smoked for two days now, my mom won't buy me cigarettes," said the 6-year-old Zhang Qiang after saying these words, playing with the lighter in his hand and falling silent.
Zhang Qiang's village is located in the mountains where most people make a living by farming. Many of the older generation are illiterate, including Zhang Qiang's mother, who is one of them. This 40-something-year-old mother also feels deeply sad and helpless when talking about her young son's smoking history.
According to Zhang Qiang's mother, when Zhang Qiang was just over 3 years old, he often played at his grandfather's house. His grandfather loved smoking and thought nothing was wrong with it, so he started giving cigarettes to Zhang Qiang as well. "I remember catching him smoking for the first time. His grandfather casually handed him a cigarette and told him how good it felt to smoke, and from then on, he couldn't stop." Encouraged by neighbors around him, Zhang Qiang soon became someone who accepted cigarettes without hesitation, imitating adults and enjoying smoking more and more, gradually becoming addicted.
Although Zhang Qiang's father works away from home for long periods, his mother still exercises her guardianship rights. "I've scolded him many times, telling him not to smoke. His two older brothers have also scolded him a lot for this matter, but it basically doesn't work," Zhang Qiang's mother said. As just a housewife, she finds it difficult to control external influences when men try to encourage her child to 'go bad.' While speaking, Zhang Qiang, standing nearby, asked someone else for a cigarette. Upon hearing there was no lighter, the little boy couldn't hide his cunning nature, "If you don't give me a lighter, I know where it's hidden!" Then Zhang Qiang ran toward the family stove, rummaged around for a bit, found the lighter his mother used for lighting fires, and skillfully lit the cigarette, puffing clouds of smoke just like an adult.
Compared to other children of the same age, Zhang Qiang is clearly shorter. His hair is sparse, yellow, and short. Zhang Qiang's mother said that although the child eats three meals a day, each meal consists of quickly finishing a bowl of food and then saying he's not hungry anymore. Often after putting down his bowl, he disappears. When searched for again, it turns out he hides behind the house, cigarette in one hand and a teacup in the other, looking like a little adult.
Zhang Qiang's mother said that her son is about to start first grade, but due to poor academic performance, the kindergarten teacher plans to have him repeat the year for another half year. "I don't know if this thing (referring to academic performance) is related to smoking, but I am really worried about his intelligence. So I never allow strangers to give him cigarettes to smoke. I've even argued with other relatives over this matter." Nevertheless, many outsiders, upon hearing about Zhang Qiang's smoking habit, go door-to-door to find his home and secretly give cigarettes to the child just to witness him puffing clouds of smoke.
"Without cigarettes, he acts sick. Once I saw his face pale, listless all day. He learned to smoke and can't quit, there's nothing I can do," said Zhang Qiang's mother, who never buys cigarettes for him. However, Zhang Qiang still finds many ways to get cigarettes. "He picks up cigarette butts discarded by others and actively asks familiar adults for cigarettes." According to Zhang Qiang's mother's estimate, the child smokes about one pack every two days. Over the past three years, Zhang Qiang has progressed from initially being coaxed into smoking to picking up cigarette butts, and now actively asking others for cigarettes. Everyone knows that this six-year-old boy has developed quite a significant smoking addiction.
Director Li Jinliang of the Psychological Health Center at Sichuan Provincial Armed Police General Hospital analyzed that Zhang Qiang's progression from learning to smoke to becoming addicted is the result of both his psychological characteristics as a child and the environment around him. Director Li Jinliang said: "I think it's a kind of imitation behavior stemming from curiosity. Clearly, this behavior is abnormal and unhealthy. The social environment where many adults smoke has influenced him through constant exposure." After prolonged imitation, the addictive components in tobacco caused Zhang Qiang's body to develop a dependence on tobacco, ultimately forming a nicotine addiction. If this situation continues, it will pose a great threat to the healthy growth of the child.
How can Zhang Qiang quit smoking? Director Li Jinliang stated that quitting smoking can only be achieved by gradually reducing the dosage, using a step-down therapy to alleviate withdrawal symptoms from severe to mild, making it easier for him to accept. During the process of quitting smoking, psychological intervention must also be conducted.
According to pediatricians at Leshan People's Hospital, children are in the stage of growth and development. Whether it is heart and lung function, brain function, or digestive and respiratory systems, they are all in the developmental stage. Long-term smoking and addiction can affect the lungs, especially cardiovascular, respiratory systems, and the nervous system during their developmental stages.
A lawyer expressed that Zhang Qiang's addiction to smoking actually has a direct relationship with his living environment. According to relevant laws and regulations, Zhang Qiang's relatives and neighbors who enticed him to smoke bear undeniable responsibility. The act of adults enticing minors to smoke infringes on the health rights of minors, and according to the provisions of the Tort Liability Law, may result in legal consequences of tort liability.
Li Jinliang also emphasized that every citizen has the responsibility and obligation to protect the healthy growth of teenagers. Attention should be paid to personal smoking behaviors, especially their adverse effects on children. Once students enter school, schools should also carry out health education in this area, guiding children to develop good behavioral habits.