YOUNG OBSERVER | From hookah to hospital …young Namibian’s vaping addiction mirrors growing national concern

Patience Makwele

What began as an innocent pastime during the Covid-19 lockdown became a dangerous addiction that a 27-year-old Namibian says almost claimed his life.

For years, Petersen Timothy believed vaping was harmless. Today, after repeated hospital admissions and a serious lung condition, he is sharing his story in the hope that other young people will not follow the same path.

The Young Observer has changed Petersen’s name to protect his identity.

Petersen, who has lived with asthma since the age of six, said his introduction to smoking came in 2020 when Covid-19 restrictions left him spending most of his time at home with cousins and neighbours.

“Back then, we bought a hookah pipe just to pass the time. It was something we did for fun,” he recalled.

What started as occasional smoking soon developed into a craving. When portable vaping devices became more popular a few years later, he switched to disposable vapes and said he rarely went anywhere without one.

“I always had one with me. I lost count of how many times I vaped in a day because it became part of my routine,” he said.