Tobacco Use in Jammu and Kashmir: JK ranks sixth in India for tobacco usage rates

Tobacco Use in Jammu and Kashmir: JK ranks sixth in India for tobacco usage rates

Dil Bar Irshad | June 1, 2024 | 09:53 AM IST | India, Jammu Kashmir | Follow on Google News

Tobacco Use in Jammu and Kashmir: JK ranks sixth in India for tobacco usage rates

Tobacco Use in Jammu and Kashmir: JK ranks sixth in India for tobacco usage rates

Key Highlights:

1. High Prevalence of Tobacco Use: Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) ranks sixth in India for tobacco consumption, with 20.8% of its population engaged in smoking.
2. Low Smokeless Tobacco Use: The region has the lowest prevalence of smokeless tobacco use in the country at 4.3%, just behind Himachal Pradesh.
3. Government Measures: The J&K government has implemented strict measures, including fines and public awareness campaigns, to combat tobacco use.

.Dr. Mir Mushtaq, the State Nodal Officer (Kashmir Division) for the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), highlighted the significant tobacco use issue in J&K. The region ranks sixth in the country with a smoking prevalence of 20.8%, following Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. However, it has the lowest prevalence of smokeless tobacco use in India at 4.3%.

Government Initiatives to Curb Tobacco Use

The government has undertaken various measures to reduce tobacco consumption:

• Challans and Fines: Thousands of challans have been issued, and substantial fines collected from public place smoking violators in the Kashmir division.
• Counselling and Treatment: Hundreds have quit smoking, with thousands receiving counselling and pharmacotherapy sessions.
• Awareness Programs: Extensive campaigns are conducted to inform people about the dangers of tobacco use, aiming to reduce the need for enforcement by increasing public awareness.

Dr. Mushtaq emphasized that raising awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use is crucial. The government has also launched initiatives to declare educational institutions and tourist destinations as tobacco-free zones. The implementation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) of 2003 is being reinforced with regular enforcement drives.

Health Risks and Urgent Call for Action

Officials warn that smokers and tobacco users are 2.5 times more likely to develop tuberculosis (TB). Tobacco use not only raises the risk of TB but also increases recurrence and impairs treatment effectiveness. The government urges citizens to quit tobacco for a healthier future.

Tobacco’s Global and Local Impact

Globally, tobacco is the leading cause of preventable deaths, killing over seven million people each year. In India, tobacco-related deaths exceed one million annually. In J&K, lung cancer is the second most common cancer, with a notable rise in lung and breast cancer cases in recent decades. Hospital data from the Kashmir Valley show a higher incidence of lung cancer among males, strongly correlated with smoking duration and frequency.

Quitting smoking significantly reduces the risk of developing cancer, although the risk does not disappear entirely. The J&K government’s stringent measures and public awareness campaigns are crucial steps in combating this pervasive public health issue.

(Inputs from Kashmir Observer)

Dil Bar Irshad

Dil Bar Irshad is a seasoned journalist, hails from Jammu Kashmir's Doda, covers political, social, business stories, index stories.