It's NOT Cool, It Kills - "World No Tobacco Day" Special

We all had at-least once came across that pre-movie ad featuring Mukesh, who suffers and dies because of his chewing addiction. Every packet of cigarette and chewing tobacco comes with statutory warning signs, but it is indeed an unfortunate affair that India accounts for more than 12% of the world’s smokers. 

Smoking cannabis has been in existence in India since 2000 B.C. Tobacco was introduced in India in 17th century and this mingled up with the existing habit of cannabis smoking. Since then, numbers of smokers and tobacco chewers in India have increased with leaps and bounds. More than 10 million people are dying each year due to tobacco related illnesses. More than 36,000 men died in the year 2012 due to oral cancer of which a major portion was due to consumption of tobacco products. 

There are many factors promoting the consumption of tobacco. One among them is the film industry. They often showcase the good guys consuming tobacco products (mostly cigars). As per one report of WHO, 76% of Bollywood movies portray the use of tobacco in one way or the other. Swayed away by the onscreen heroes, in a pursuit of presenting themselves as “cool” and “suave”, the youths too start smoking at a very early age despite this being harmful at any age. 

Also, because of the increasing academic and peer pressure, students use it as something to escape the anxiety and stress. Chemical reaction initiated in the human body by the cigarette is what makes it addictive. Nicotine is the chemical present in tobacco that keeps the smoker smoking. Nicotine that gets into his body through cigarettes activates structures normally present in his brain called receptors. When these receptors are activated, they release a brain chemical called dopamine, which makes him feel good. This encourages him to consume more during anxiety and hence become addicted to it consequently resulting in low self-confidence and energy. He later starts consuming it to escape his problems of life instead of facing them off. 

Smoking in public places was prohibited nationwide in the year 2008 since a major portion of deaths by tobacco consumption worldwide was due to passive smoking (by inhaling the smoke of cigarette consumed by another person). Sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions is also prohibited as per this law but is not enforced everywhere properly. Mandatory pictorial warnings covering at least 40% of the wrapper on tobacco products was enforced in May 2009. Yet, the nation has never seen a decline in the consumption of tobacco products and its market is blooming with profits by each passing year. 

So, what steps can be taken to remedy tobacco consumption in India? 

One needs to be aware of the consequences of tobacco consumption. It should be imbibed in an individual at a very early age. Moreover, upbringing a child assimilating within him proper moral values also helps in the long run and will enable him to decide whether something is right or wrong. The life threatening oral cancer and other illnesses related to tobacco consumption can be prevented by action against the risk factors, of which the major factor is tobacco. The steps that can be taken to minimise tobacco consumption and related diseases are: 

• Proper enforcement of law on access to tobacco products by youths and prohibition of all advertising and promotional activities by tobacco industry. 
• The prominent inclusion of strong pictorial warnings in existing written warnings and covering up of more space on the wrapper by it for an easy display. 
• Education campaigns are needed to raise public awareness about oral cancer and its links with tobacco consumption. 

So, let's pledge this "World NO Tobacco Day" to not consume any such products and stand against its consumption. Let's make this world a better and healthier place to live in, devoid of all those reddish gutkha stains on almost every corner of a building, and avoiding that deadly smoke consumption.