Complained of dizziness early in quitting smoking but succeeded in rehabilitation
Update through Japanese media: "Chocolate over cigarettes"
Aldi Rizal (16), who caused an international sensation by smoking about 2 packs (40 cigarettes) a day at the age of 2, has recently announced that he successfully quit smoking after two rounds of rehabilitation.
On the 12th, the Japanese online media 'Daily Shincho' reported that Aldi, now 16 years old, underwent two rehabilitation treatments and succeeded in quitting smoking.
Aldi, who lives on the island of South Sumatra in Indonesia, shocked the world in 2010 when a video of him sitting on a toy car smoking a cigarette was shared on YouTube.
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Indonesian authorities provided support through psychologists, including meal, exercise, and play therapy for him.
After Aldi was no longer allowed to put cigarettes in his mouth, his obsession with food intensified, and by 2013, his weight had increased to 24 kg, which is 6 kg above the normal level. In the early stages of quitting smoking, he also experienced dizziness and sometimes hit his head against the wall due to cravings. However, through rehabilitation treatment, Aldi succeeded in quitting smoking.
Since then, he has achieved excellent grades at school and expressed his wish to "become a doctor and protect everyone's health."
Recently, a German weekly magazine reported on his current situation through local coverage, stating that "he seems to be living a difficult life as he dropped out of school and helps his mother at the market."
However, in an interview with the media, Aldi said, "I like chocolate more than cigarettes," indicating that he continues to stay smoke-free.
At the time of the 2010 report, it was said that Aldi's father was the first to offer him a cigarette, but the family believes it is more likely that he received cigarettes from adults while accompanying his mother, who sells vegetables, at the market.
It may be difficult to understand the form of offering cigarettes to children, but Indonesia is a country with low awareness of smoking issues. Local expert Noriko Nishikawa explained in an interview with Daily Shincho, "Indonesia is the only Southeast Asian WHO member country that has not participated in the treaty on tobacco regulation, which is practically equivalent to having no regulations. There are also regions in Indonesia where awareness of smoking issues is even lower."
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2018, 63% of adult men in Indonesia smoke, and the smoking rate among youths aged 10 to 18 approaches 10%. Indonesia ranks second in the world for tobacco consumption after China. The Indonesian government has been raising tobacco excise taxes almost every year since 2014 to reduce smoking rates, but it has not achieved significant results.
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