User:Nnguynn/Smoking in Indonesia

= Indonesia's Smoking Baby = Aldi Rizal, also known as Aldi Suganda, was an Indonesian toddler from Sumatra who shocked the world when a video was shared of him smoking on Youtube in 2010. The video gathered worldwide attention and Rizal quickly became known as the Smoking Baby due to his nicotine addiction at the age of 2. He smoked an average of 40 cigarettes a day and despite numerous attempts, his parents were unable to stop his smoking habits. Rizal later went on to receive treatment for his addiction with a well-known child psychologist in Jakarta and his rehabilitation was funded by the government. Rizal successfully recovered from his nicotine addiction but struggled with overeating due to the nicotine withdrawal. With the help of a nutritionist, Rizal was able to overcome his excessive food consumption habits and continued to quit smoking. He was interviewed again seven years after the release of the Smoking Baby video and was shown to have maintained a healthier lifestyle. Rizal was said to have stopped smoking and is excelling in school.

The Smoking Baby case was one of many cases of child smoking in Indonesia. The video raised concerns about Indonesia's lack of regulation for tobacco advertisements and how easily accessible cigarette products were to children. Children in Indonesia could easily purchase cigarettes from any kiosks or shops as age restrictions were not strictly employed by owners. Culture and peer influence were also other factors that encouraged smoking among children. Other similar cases included the 2-year old Rapi Ananda Pamungka and 6-year old Dihan Muhamad who created headlines for their smoking addiction Aside from tobacco smoking, the Indonesian government has also expressed concerns regarding the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes and vaping among the youth. Many youths are turning to vaping as an alternative to cigarettes with the misconception that it is the healthier option. The Indonesian government is still trying to combat the large rates of child smoking in its country.