Imagine consuming a product that is officially known to kill half of its users. It sounds strange that such a product could be sold freely, right? Yet in reality, that product is displayed openly in small convenience stalls, sitting next to candy and crackers.

It can be bought individually with pocket money, and its advertisements are everywhere—from the streets to shop displays—even though warning labels are clearly shown. It may sound like fiction, but this is the reality faced by young people in Indonesia.

For many teenagers today, cigarettes are no longer just about following trends or the excuse that “it doesn’t feel right not to smoke.” They have become a silent killer that begins tightening its grip from a very young age.

While many countries have tightened regulations, in Indonesia teenagers can still buy single cigarettes without being asked for their age or identification. Slowly, without realizing it, their bodies begin to deteriorate, while the tobacco industry profits from the future of a generation burning away with every puff.

Cigarette Smoke Trapping Generation Z

Data from the 2023 Indonesia Health Survey (SKI) by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia shows that the number of active smokers in Indonesia is estimated to have reached 70 million people. Of that total, around 7.4 percent are children aged 10–18 years.

Even more worrying, it is the child and adolescent age groups that are experiencing the highest increase. Among those aged 15–19 years, the increase reached around 56.5 percent, while the 10–14 age group rose by 18.4 percent.

This is especially concerning because this stage of life is the most important time for learning, development, and building healthy habits. Instead, many are becoming trapped in the smoke-filled culture of smoking.

source: Freepik

The phenomenon of cigarette smoke in youth hangout circles appears to be closely linked to the aggressive marketing of the tobacco industry.

Research by the Tobacco Enforcement and Reporting Movement (TERM) from May to August 2023 found that more than two-thirds of tobacco product promotions circulated on social media. Around 68 percent appeared on Instagram, 16 percent on Facebook, and 14 percent on X (Twitter).

Not only that, tobacco companies also frequently appear as sponsors of various music and sports festivals, many of which are attended by young people.

In addition, the relatively low price makes cigarettes easily accessible for youth. The average cigarette price in Indonesia is around IDR 44,485 per pack, far lower than the global average of around IDR 89,900 (Rohman, 2024).

When bought individually at neighborhood stalls, the price is only around IDR 1,000 to 2,500 per cigarette. Even leftover pocket money is enough for young people to buy cigarettes.

Findings from CISDI (2023) show that the sale of single cigarettes makes it increasingly easy for students to purchase them. In fact, many students even pool money with friends to buy cigarettes together.

Furthermore, the presence of various flavored cigarette products makes many young people even more curious to try them.

According to Mouhamad Bigwanto, Chair of the Indonesian Health Policy Forum (RUKKI), these added flavors make cigarettes feel more “friendly” to teenagers because they create a different and more enjoyable sensation, while masking the bitter taste and strong smell of tobacco (Tempo, 2024).

Behind Every Puff: Serious Health Risks

According to Alodokter, cigarette addiction has serious impacts on the body because cigarettes contain harmful substances such as nicotine, tar, formaldehyde, benzene, and nitrosamines.

Nicotine, for example, can interfere with concentration and learning focus. As a result, academic performance can easily decline, and some students become increasingly reluctant to attend school because of peer environments that support smoking habits.

In the body, smoking causes blood vessels to narrow. This reduces the smooth flow of blood and oxygen to muscles and bones.

As a result, teenagers become tired more quickly during sports, often experience body aches, and in the long term, bone density may decrease, increasing the risk of fractures.

In the lungs, nicotine and tar trigger inflammation and damage tissue. Oxygen exchange becomes less effective.

This is usually marked by excessive mucus, persistent coughing, and shortness of breath.

In the mouth, smoking turns teeth yellow, causes plaque buildup, creates bad breath, and increases the risk of gum disease.

If this habit continues, teeth may fall out or severe gum infections may develop.

The most serious risks come from heart disease and cancer.

Smoking makes the heart work harder and blood vessels narrower, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The carcinogenic substances in cigarettes also continuously damage body cells until they eventually develop into cancer, especially in the lungs, mouth, and throat.

A Warning for the Future

In conclusion, it is clear that a single cigarette carries serious long-term health consequences. The smoking trend among young people does not grow without reason: cheap prices, constant promotion, and increasingly diverse flavors. This combination is what makes cigarettes a silent killer that works slowly from adolescence. Therefore, it is important for us to remind fellow young people to stop smoking.

Speak up, encourage your friends, and choose healthier steps for yourself and for our future.

Reference

Alodokter. 2025. 6 Dampak Merokok bagi Remaja yang perlu diketahui. https://www.alodokter.com/6-dampak-merokok-bagi-remaja-yang-perlu-diketahui 

Center for Indonesia’s Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI). 2023. Hubungan Pembelian Rokok Eceran dengan Frekuensi, Intensitas, dan Inisiasi Merokok di Kalangan Remaja: Sebuah Studi Metode Campuran di Indonesia. Jakarta: CISDI 

Jalin Foundation & Udayana CENTRAL. 2024. Report Jakarta Tobacco Survey. Jakarta: Jalin Foundation  

Kemkes. 2024. Perokok Aktif di Indonesia Tembus 70 juta orang, Mayoritas Anak Muda. https://kemkes.go.id/id/perokok-aktif-di-indonesia-tembus-70-juta-orang-mayoritas-anak-muda 

Rohman, C. 2024. Harga rokok yang murah akibatkan tingginya minat rokok di Indonesia. https://jatim.antaranews.com/berita/824395/harga-rokok-yang-murah-akibatkan-tingginya-minat-rokok-di-indonesia 

Tempo. 2024. Remaja Semakin Rentan dikepung Iklan Rokok Varian Rasa. https://www.tempo.co/gaya-hidup/remaja-semakin-rentan-dikepung-iklan-rokok-varian-rasa-379730