A new study revealed that social influence, emotional stress, and easy access to vape products are key reasons why vaping has become widespread among high school students in the Philippines, despite existing anti-vaping laws.
“Vaping is no longer an addiction to nicotine, vaping is also an addiction to acceptance,” said Wilbert Wanas, a teacher at Guinaoang National High School in Mankayan, Benguet, who conducted the study. He said his findings show that students often vape to fit in with peers, express independence, or cope with stress and emotional challenges. The study criticized the lack of anti-vaping education in school curricula and called for more engaging, visual learning methods.
“They don’t vape to rebel, because they vape to cope, they vape to belong, they vape to survive something that they can even name it,” he said.
Presenting his findings at the 2025 International Educators Conference in Vietnam, Wanas received the Outstanding Global Researcher Award and Best Presenter honors.
