Hellenic Thoracic Society calls for nationwide school smoking prevention

The Hellenic Thoracic Society (HTS) is calling on the Greek state to expand smoking prevention programs to all schools nationwide. Currently, these initiatives are implemented only sporadically in certain schools within Attica.

Paraskevi Katsaounou, a professor of Pulmonology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and a member of the HTS Board, emphasized that prevention is critical because nicotine addiction is difficult to reverse once established. She noted that traditional methods focusing on long-term health risks often fail to resonate with adolescents, who may feel immune to future consequences.

To address this, the HTS utilizes experiential learning methods, including role-playing, debates, and the use of Greek literature to help students understand the effects of nicotine without feeling threatened. The society also advocates for integrating sports into prevention efforts, citing a collaboration with the Aris BC basketball team to create educational content. The HTS seeks centralized, consistent, and recurring programs to effectively establish anti-smoking behaviors among youth.