India: Raj Youths Take to Tobacco Early Despite Ban on It

Source from:  Daily Bhaskar 02/05/2013

In a country which is the oral cancer capital of the world, the state of Rajasthan, where 32% of its population above the age of 15 years (1.5 crore people) use tobacco, comes tops when it comes to early initiation of tobacco use.

 

According to the findings of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2010, the average age for tobacco initiation in Rajasthan is 17 years against 18 for the rest of the country. This despite Rajasthan being one of the few states which have banned tobacco smoking in public indicating that the culprit here could be chewing tobacco.
 
"India alone claims for 86% of all cases of oral cancer reported across the globe, which is quite high. Most of these patients are consumers of gutkas and khanis, this despite at least 18 states having banned the sale of chewing tobacco. Business houses are still selling raw tobacco which addicts mix with other substances for oral consumption," said RVHA president Satayen Chaturvedy.
 
In the state 80 lakh people smoke tobacco, while 90 lakh use gutka, khaini or other types, the report states. Of these, 60 lakh people will die untimely due to the seriousness of diseases which includes, cancer, heart attack and pulmonary diseases.
 
The report further shows that about 26% people chew tobacco against 14% population smoking it. "Reducing the number of people chewing tobacco remains one of the biggest challenges of the Health Ministry," GATS stated.
 
President of India Asthma Care Society Dharamvir Katewa attributes high tobacco consumption in Rajasthan to peer acceptance and use at home. "The reason why these substances are used more in Rajasthan is because children can see elders use them within their homes; even in social gatherings guests are welcomes with tobacco and bidis in villages."
 
The average smoking population in state is much higher than national average; it is 19% of state's tobacco-consuming population smoke against 14% for India. The trend applies to the female population as well. While the national average for daily smokers among women is 2.9%, for Rajasthan it stands at 4.2%. Enditem