Bhubaneswar: Tobacco use has been linked to a wide range of negative impacts to both individuals and the society. The tobacco industry itself is considered to be a major contributor to environmental damage. Even though the Odisha government has banned the sale and manufacturing of tobacco in 2013, the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS) reveals that one in every two men and one in every four women consume the substance in the state.
According to NFHS-5, though consumption of tobacco has marginally dropped in Odisha, it is among the top states where a significant proportion of the population still uses tobacco in all forms – be it through chewing or smoking.
The prevalence of tobacco use in Odisha can be gauged from the fact that nearly half (51.6 per cent) of the state’s men, aged above 15, and 26 per cent of women are tobacco users, well above the national average of 38 per cent for men and 8.9 per cent for women.
Worse, people in rural areas consume more tobacco than people of urban areas. In villages, 54.1 per cent of men and 28 per cent of women consume tobacco as compared to 40.5 per cent of men and 16.6 per cent of women in urban areas.
Keeping all this in view, on the World No Tobacco Day, OrissaPOST spoke with Doctors, health experts and activists about the steps that need to be taken to reduce tobacco consumption and prevent all the health and social hazards emanating because of it.
Mohammad Imran Ali, an anti-drug activist and managing director of Salaam Jeevan says that tobacco use among children and youths has reached an alarming stage in Odisha.
“Tobacco consumption in Odisha is higher than the national average. We must act to ensure tobacco-free childhood everywhere. All educational institutions must be designated tobacco free places. As family members, we must not send children to fetch tobacco goods from market,” he said.
Though gutkha and pan masala have officially been banned, the companies have introduced two pouches (Bade Miyan & Chhotey Miyan) effectively reintroducing them in the market, Ali said, adding that time has come to work collectively to control this tobacco menace in state.
Elaborating on the side effects of tobacco, Subasish Behera, a dentist, says, “When we think of the harmful effects of tobacco use, we often focus on lung health. However, it’s important to recognise that these habits also have a significant impact on our oral health.”
Tobacco affects how gum tissue attaches to bone and impairs the function of gum tissue cells. This leads to gum recession, exposing the sensitive tooth roots and causing increased tooth sensitivity, tooth and jawbone loss, he said, adding tobacco use significantly increases risk of oral cancer.
“Quitting tobacco and improving dental health can be achieved by seeking professional help, consulting a dentist who can provide guidance on quitting strategies, like nicotine replacement therapy,” advised Behera.
About what attracts the youths towards tobacco, Amrit Pattajoshi, a psychologist and health expert says, “It gives the youth instant gratification, but they forget that it has long term hidden costs as habit forms.”
The first important thing is peer pressure— their friends encourage them to try cigarettes and to keep smoking, it becomes a way of rebelling and showing independence, explained Pattajoshi, adding that the tobacco industry’s clever marketing tactics has also contributed to increased consumption among teenagers.
Priyanka Singhdeo, a fitness expert, says some of the chemicals in tobacco, like nicotine, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, arsenic, and lead, can have a significant impact on women’s health.
“Women who smoke are at greater risk for health problems such as lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as early menopause and infertility. There is also evidence that smoking during pregnancy can cause a variety of birth defects, including low birth weight, preterm delivery,” she says.
A senior excise official says, “We have carried out raids at hookah bars in the past but found the bars were using herbal substances.”
“We conduct raids whenever receive any complaint regarding sale of tobacco products in hookah bars. Similarly, the officials of Excise department, city police, district health department, food inspector jointly conduct raids under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003,”he said.
Meanwhile, the commissionerate police has carried out several raids at the shops in the capital city and collected fine of `41,980 from 308 persons for violating the COTPA act in May so far.
By Arindam Ganguly, OP