Teen smoking turns into 17-year addiction

Former smoker Andre Hansen (33) has overcome a 17-year tobacco addiction, shedding light on the rising health threat of teenage smoking.

Hansen says he was just 13 when he started smoking. What began as experimentation with other boys in his Windhoek neighbourhood became a daily habit he struggled to break, eventually affecting his relationships, stability and self-esteem, he says.

“I believe it was indirect peer pressure. Society made us believe cigarettes were nothing, that it was part of the experience of growing up.”

Hansen has now been tobacco-free and has abstained from other substance use for more than two years.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed concerns about the growing use of tobacco and nicotine products among Namibian teenagers.

The 2024 Namibia Global School-based Student Health Survey indicates that almost 9% of teenagers between 13 and 17 currently smoke cigarettes, while almost 18% use a tobacco product, and 23% use electronic cigarettes.

Boys are particularly affected, with nearly 30% reporting e-cigarette use.

The figures indicate that newer nicotine products, including electronic cigarettes (vapes), are now more prevalent among teenagers than traditional cigarettes.

Hansen says smoking became part of his daily routine and was eventually “impossible to stop”.

“After eating, I had to have a cigarette. It was a pattern I was trapped in,” he says.

The WHO says nicotine is highly addictive, particularly among teenagers whose brains are still developing.

“Early exposure to nicotine can increase susceptibility to dependence and affect attention, learning, impulse control and mental health.

“The tobacco and nicotine industry has also adapted its approach to attract younger users through products with sleek designs and flavours, as well as digital marketing and branding associated with modern lifestyles,” the WHO says.

However, nicotine use can lead to addiction and long-term dependence, while exposing users to risks to their physical health, including cardiovascular diseases and various cancers.

For Hansen, quitting only became possible after his life reached a point where he realised he needed help.

“I looked at my life and realised this is not what I planned for,” he says.

He entered a rehabilitation programme, describing the experience as emotional and overwhelming.

“I cried a lot. Becoming clean for the first time in my life was overwhelming,” Hansen says.

Namibia, as a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, is implementing the MPower programme, a six-point framework aimed at reducing tobacco use.

The measures include legislation regulating tobacco use, advertising and exposure, taxation aimed at reducing consumption, school health education, community engagement, and training healthcare workers to support people who want to quit.

Ministry of Health and Social Services director Helen Mouton says the consequences of tobacco use should not be underestimated.

“Evidence shows that half of all regular smokers will eventually die from smoking-related causes, with an average loss of 15 years of life.

“These are not just numbers; they represent lives cut short, unrealised potential, and families left grieving. The time to intervene is now,” she says.

For Hansen, quitting has meant more than simply giving up cigarettes.

He says his recovery from tobacco and other substance use has helped restore relationships and given him a renewed sense of purpose.

“I still can’t believe how relationships with family members can be transformed through one change. It’s like someone walking out of prison after many years,” he says.

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