Prevention begins with listening.
On February 10, I once again had the opportunity to give a guest lecture about vaping to a second-year class at the practical education department of Pantarijn.
What made it extra special was that 52 years ago, I graduated from the same school — then called the Wageningen Lyceum. Back then, vaping did not exist. Today, for many young people, it has become part of daily life — and highly addictive.
What struck me most was the students’ openness, engagement, and critical thinking. They asked thoughtful questions and enriched the discussion with insights from their own world. When I mentioned the “smart vape” — sometimes referred to as the “atomic bomb of vaping” because it combines messaging, gaming, and nicotine addiction — one of the students pointed out that smartphone cases with built-in inhalation devices already exist. Cases that allow young people to vape while using their phones. Messaging, gaming, and nicotine use become one single action, one habit, one addiction.
What once seemed like a gadget has evolved into a deliberately designed product that targets vulnerability — especially among young people. If this is called innovation, then legislation and the protection of youth are painfully lagging behind reality.
Considering the Dutch National Prevention Agreement, this is exactly the moment to take action. Prevention is not only about education and awareness; it is also about setting clear boundaries for intrusive and addictive products like these.
It was both a confronting and hopeful experience. These young people are not passive users; they are growing up in a world where addiction is increasingly packaged as something smart, normal, and attractive. That is precisely why conversations with them matter so much. Because listening, asking critical questions, and creating awareness — that is where prevention begins.
My sincere thanks to the students and the school for this open and meaningful encounter.
Together towards a Smoke-Free Generation.