Ardi Rizal overcomes severe childhood nicotine addiction

Ardi Rizal, an Indonesian boy who gained international attention in 2010 for smoking up to 40 cigarettes a day at the age of two, has successfully overcome his nicotine addiction.

Residing in the village of Teluk Kemang in southern Sumatra, Rizal’s addiction reportedly began at 18 months old after his father provided him with his first cigarette. The case drew global scrutiny regarding child smoking and tobacco advertising. The addiction was severe, causing the child to experience violent withdrawal symptoms, including temper tantrums and self-harm, when unable to smoke.

Following intervention by the Indonesian Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, Rizal underwent a rehabilitation process assisted by child psychologist Seto Mulyadi. While he successfully quit smoking, he initially faced new challenges, including anxiety and compulsive eating. Recent updates indicate that Rizal has grown up healthy, attends school, and maintains a controlled diet.