Anti-smoking and anti-vaping campaign launched in schools of Gümülcine
Titled “Smoking? Vaping? Not Us!”, the campaign targets students in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades of primary schools and is being implemented by the Orpheas Prevention Center of Gümülcine. The initiative seeks to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and electronic cigarettes, while also protecting young people from the influence of the tobacco and vaping industries.
The action is part of a broader WHO-led effort to inform and sensitize students about the serious health risks associated with smoking and emerging tobacco products, especially those marketed as “safer alternatives.”
As part of the campaign, Spiros Voltsis, psychologist at the Orpheas Prevention Center, visited the Primary School of Kosmio in Gümülcine, where he addressed students and educators on the dangers of both traditional and electronic smoking products.
“Numerous studies have proven the extreme dangers of smoking, placing it at the top of the causes of cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and many other serious illnesses,” Voltsis stated.
Despite ongoing public awareness campaigns, he noted that a significant portion of the population—including adolescents and young people—continues to smoke or adopt newer smoking trends that are often perceived as “less harmful.”
Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, vapes, vape pens, e-hookahs, and mods, are particularly popular among youth, often due to their lower cost and wide variety of flavors. However, according to Voltsis, scientific evidence indicates that these products can have immediate and severe effects on lung health.
“Vaping has been linked to life-threatening lung conditions such as acute lung injury, interstitial lung disease, acute eosinophilic pneumonia, pleural effusion, as well as nicotine poisoning, asthma exacerbation, and cardiovascular events,” he explained.
Voltsis also emphasized that the long-term effects of vaping—particularly in relation to cancer development and passive exposure—remain largely unknown and under investigation.
While newer tobacco products are often promoted as transitional tools for smoking cessation, Voltsis warned that reality suggests otherwise.
“Not only do these products fail to help people quit, but many smokers end up using both conventional cigarettes and alternative products. At the same time, individuals who start with ‘alternative’ products face a high risk of transitioning to traditional smoking,” he said.
Presenting vaping and other alternative tobacco products as harmless or less harmful, he added, makes young people more vulnerable to smoking initiation.
“There is no such thing as ‘safe smoking.’ Anything foreign to the lungs causes harm,” Voltsis concluded.
The Orpheas Prevention Center continues to emphasize education as a critical tool in protecting children and adolescents from nicotine addiction and long-term health consequences.
