Toys Help 2-year-old Boy to Stop Smoking

A two-year-old Indonesian boy who smoked about 40 cigarettes a day has kicked the habit after intensive therapy. Ardi Rizal, who lives in the South Sumatran fishing village of Musi Banyuasin, appeared on the internet in May, drawing attention to Indonesia's failure to regulate the tobacco industry.

Six months after his father gave him his first cigarette, the overweight boy was smoking two packs a day and threw violent tantrums if his addiction was not satisfied, Telegraph informs.

Psychologist Seto Mulyadi, who took the child into his own home as part of rehabilitation efforts, said Friday the boy has stopped asking for cigarettes.

He said Aldi picked up the habit because virtually every man in his fishing village in South Sumatra province smokes. When removed from that environment, and offered a wide range of activities, including playing and drawing, he no longer had the urge, the psychologist said.

Aldi's father gave him his first cigarette when he was just 18-months-old, relatives have said, The Associated Press reports.