DR RUBEENA ANJUM & DR AJAY KUMAR
Tobacco is the common name for the processed leaves of Nicotiana tabacum plants, which are dried and cured for use primarily in smoking, chewing, and as snuff. Tobacco cultivation in India is a significant agricultural activity with considerable socio-economic implications. In India Major Tobacco-Growing States are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. These states also contribute to India’s tobacco production, focusing on various types like bidi, chewing tobacco, and hookah tobacco. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India 2016-17, about 28.6% of adults (15 years and older) use tobacco in some form. This includes 42.4% of men and 14.2% of women.
Tobacco use is associated with a wide range of serious health issues, affecting both oral and overall health like Oral Cancer, Periodontal (Gum) Disease, Staining and Discoloration, Halitosis (Bad Breath), Reduced Sense of Taste and Smell, Delayed Healing, heart attack, stroke, and hypertension, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, cancers of the lung, esophagus, larynx, pancreas, bladder, kidney, cervix, and stomach.
People typically become habituated to tobacco use through a combination of social, psychological, and physiological factors. Here are some common pathways through which individuals might start using tobacco and develop a habit:
Social Influence:
* Peer Pressure: Many people, especially adolescents, start using tobacco because of peer pressure or the desire to fit in with a group that uses tobacco.
Psychological Factors:
* Stress and Coping: Some people start using tobacco as a way to cope with stress, anxiety, or other psychological issues. Nicotine has short-term mood-enhancing effects that can make it seem like a helpful tool for managing emotions.
* Mental Health: Individuals with mental health disorders, such as depression or anxiety, may be more prone to start and continue using tobacco as a form of self-medication.
Access and Availability:
* Ease of Access: If tobacco products are easily accessible, either through legal means or illegal means, individuals are more likely to start using them.
* Cost: In some regions, the relatively low cost of tobacco products can make them more attractive and accessible to potential users.
Curiosity and Experimentation:
* Curiosity: Young people, in particular, may try tobacco out of curiosity to experience its effects or because they see others doing it and want to know what it feels like.
* Experimentation: Initial experimentation, especially in social settings, can lead to regular use as the individual becomes accustomed to the effects of nicotine.
Preventing teenagers and young adults from developing a tobacco habit involves a multi-faceted approach that includes education, regulation, support systems, and community involvement.
Here are some effective strategies:
Education and Awareness:
* School Programs: Implement comprehensive tobacco education programs in schools that inform students about the risks of tobacco use, including the health impacts and the addictive nature of nicotine.
* Public Awareness Campaigns: Utilize media campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco, targeting both teens and their parents. These campaigns can use social media, TV, and other platforms popular with young people.
* Parental Guidance: Encourage parents to talk to their children about the risks of tobacco use and set a good example by not using tobacco themselves.
* Packaging and Labeling: Mandate plain packaging and strong health warnings on tobacco products to make them less appealing.
Support Systems:
* Counseling and Support Groups: Provide access to counseling and support groups for young people who are struggling with peer pressure or stress that might lead them to use tobacco.
* Helplines and Resources: Make resources such as quitlines and online support readily available for those seeking help to quit or avoid starting tobacco use.
To express our deep concern about the ongoing public health crisis caused by tobacco use in our country. The widespread use of tobacco products has led to severe health consequences, economic burdens, and social costs. By implementing stronger tobacco control policies and ensuring their rigorous enforcement, the government can significantly reduce tobacco use, save lives, and improve public health outcomes. We urge you to prioritize this issue and take immediate steps to protect our population from the harms of tobacco.
(The writers Dr Rubeena Anjum (Prof. and HOD) and Dr Ajay Kumar (Post graduate student), Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Oral Microbiology, Indira Gandhi Govt Dental College, Jammu).