At just two years old, a young boy addicted to cigarettes has successfully overcome his dependence after entering rehab.
The toddler, known as Aldi Rizal, would become extremely agitated if he went without his daily intake of 40 cigarettes, prompting child protection officials to step in and arrange therapy for him.
After three months of rigorous treatment, he has finally conquered his cravings and is now playing normally for the first time.
The therapy provided for the two-year-old consists of play therapy, designed to keep him engaged and distracted.
You might be thinking, as I did, that Aldi’s case is extraordinary. In Indonesia, 
(the country where this case took place), children typically start rehab between the ages of five and nine. However, this year has seen an increase in cases involving children under one year old.
During treatment at the center, it became evident that Aldi was profoundly addicted. Following his final cigarette, he became uncontrollable, crying and then beginning to strike his head against the walls and floor.
This troubling situation came to light in May when it was revealed that young Aldi had started smoking at the age of 11 months after his father, a fishmonger named Mohammed, offered him a cigarette to alleviate a headache.
He was seen blowing smoke rings using his toy truck, which seemingly sparked his interest in smoking.
Aldi’s mother also underwent rehab for psychological support.
Aldi and his mother are expected to have just returned to their home village. The agency overseeing his care is set to return responsibilities to local government officials, who must ensure Aldi is well cared for in the future and that he refrains from smoking.
Medical professionals at the rehab center have provided Aldi’s parents with strategies to manage his addiction and prevent a relapse.
Due to obesity, Aldi also has a significant layer of fat surrounding his heart, which causes it to work harder—though doctors claim this is not attributed to smoking, which has yet to impact his health.
His parents, residing in Sekayu, Indonesia, only sought assistance because they were unable to afford his two packs-a-day habit. His mother Diana, 26, said yesterday, “The money can now go towards other necessities.” Presumably, this implies spending on harmful substances like cocaine and heroin when he turns three.
So, amid the smoking issue, it’s likely he consumes around 10 Big Macs daily as well.
This entire situation is absolutely absurd. While I recognize that Indonesia has a different lifestyle from what we experience here in Australia, as a parent, one must realize that handing an 11-month-old baby a cigarette is inevitably going to have negative outcomes.
The most appropriate action would be to sterilize both parents to prevent any further children and impose a lengthy prison sentence that may, hopefully, deter other negligent parents from similar acts.
by Sel Hurst
