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Images of two-year-old Sumatran boy, Aldi Rizal, shocked the world when he was discovered with a cigarette in his hand while riding his tricycle.

His family had never discouraged him after he had his first cigarette at just 18 months.

His habit peaked to smoking two packs a day.

The Indonesian government eventually stepped in and said Aldi had to give up the smokes, shared New Idea.

He was taken into rehab where he was weaned off of his cigarette habit and allowed to be a toddler for the first time.

Smoke-Free

In the 7 years since, Aldi has managed to stay clean of smokes. His mother, Diane, says that his rehabilitation doctor – Dr Kak Seto – regularly checks in on the family and has been a positive influence on young Aldi.

‘There are many people still offering Aldi cigarettes, but Aldi no. He says “I love Kak Seto. He would be sad if I started smoking again and made myself ill,’ she explains.

smoking-baby-921975

Aldi has since become the poster-child for tackling childhood smoking in Indonesia – where it is through that at least a third of children under 10 years old have tried cigarettes.

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Image via Getty

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  • He certainly looks a lot healthier now. I hope his smoking hasn’t cause permanent lung or other organ damage at all.

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  • Terrific ending for this young man. Hope him being a poster boy works for the Indonesians.

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  • A shocking story with a happy ending – hope he keeps it up!

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  • Wow, he has lost a lot of weight too, both will have amazing impacts on his future health. Just hope all that smoking on such young lungs hasn’t had any long term effects.

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  • Eye opening. I’m glad he’s managed to stay off the habit. I never realized it was so bad for really young kids in overseas places; just assumed it was the adults who smoked…wonder how the lungs etc. will fare…with the pollution of most cities they say it’s like smoking 2 packs a day.. so perhaps still will have trouble down the track. Let’s hope not.

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  • Well done Aldi, stay strong!

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  • It’s great that his health has turned around, just a pity it was allowed to develop in the first place.

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  • Great that Aldi received help but what punishment/treatment did his father receive.

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  • He changed so much. I’m glad the rehabilitation helped him. Still incredible to think that he was offered a cigarette when he was 18 months old though! :-(

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  • Well done Aldi. We could do with Aldi here in Australia to tackle Australia’s teen smoking issues.

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  • Seriously this is a true story I thought it was a joke but wow rehab what can I say to young Aldi well done for giving up cigarettes

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  • Wow, well done Aldi, keep it up !

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  • What an amazing achievement. Such inspirational for young people to know they can say no

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  • I’m glad he’s stopped; amazing hs family never tried to stop him.

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  • at least he doesn’t do this now, what a sad fact that he did them in the first place

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