“Tobacco misuse is a slow-burning tragedy, where each puff fuels not just an addiction but a cascade of health risks.”
Tobacco misuse is a multi-faceted concern that brings irreparable damage both to society and individual health. Abusing tobacco from a young age causes several physical and mental health problems. A person abuses tobacco by chewing it, e-cigarettes, vapes, or cigars. In recent years, people from all walks of life have been influenced to consume tobacco.
The addictive habit of nicotine, present in tobacco plants, gives rise to the abuse of tobacco. Nicotine addiction develops easily, making some patients smoke more often despite knowing the negative health effects, which can be emotionally disturbing and physically harmful. This vicious cycle of addiction risks not only physical health but also emotional and mental coherence and hinders the process of quitting and rebuilding.
History of Tobacco Use in India
Smoking has had an abiding effect on society owing to the social, cultural, and economic reasons that have been present throughout India’s long history. Tobacco stands out in Indian rituals and ceremonies, is intertwined with religious rites, and is used as a sign of hospitality. Besides being associated with large-scale issues of public health, the general use of tobacco has also caused huge financial problems.
Earlier, the predominant means of tobacco use in India were paan, khaini, smokeless tobacco products, and bidi, which is like a hand-rolled cigarette. These traditional forms of tobacco use have been common in different regions of the country, and each region has different cultural and socioeconomic aspects.
In current years, urbanization, globalization, intense advertising of tobacco, economic progress, and trends have led to the popularity of manufactured cigarettes in India. But, this leads to several diseases and problems, significantly burdening the Indian health care system.
Reports have shown that tobacco use is still very high in India, with 28.6% of 15-year-olds and older people using tobacco in one form or another. Tobacco misuse is prevalent, with around 21.4% of individuals using smokeless tobacco.
Health Risks
- Smoking is injurious to health as it causes chronic health diseases and impacts a person’s overall health. Here are some data on the impact of tobacco abuse on people’s health:
- Tobacco addiction is the leading cause of smoking-related cancers around the world. According to current research, around 80% of people in India who smoke suffer from lung cancer.
- Smoking directly affects a person’s respiratory health. It increases the chances of asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema.
- The excessive use of tobacco also leads to oral cancer. People who chew tobacco constantly develop gum-related problems, such as leukoplakia, esophageal cancer, or tooth loss.
- Tobacco addiction also impacts the reproductive health of both men and women. In men, it may give rise to diseases such as erectile dysfunction, while in women, it troubles the process of pregnancy, premature birth, and infant intrauterine death, as well. It can also lead to fetal health problems or death in pregnant women.
- Tobacco is also the leading cause of heart problems. It can cause heart attacks, artery blockages, and strokes. Smoking for a longer period of time leads to the development of plaque in the blood vessels, which restricts blood flow.
- Tobacco use is also risky in terms of mental health disorders. It can cause a depressed state, stress problems, anxiety, and drug addiction disorders.
Prevention Strategies
Tobacco prevention strategies aim to dissuade those who have not yet begun smoking to persuade current users to quit and to make the environment more comfortable among non-smokers. Here are some major preventative strategies:
Education and Knowledge
Tobacco awareness and education programs and seminars should educate people about the negative health impacts of smoking. It is important for people to understand how consuming tobacco leads to dependency.
Tobacco-Free Rules
Imposing smoking bans in schools, offices, and other public places is another method of discouraging tobacco usage. Governments and the public should include smoke-free regulations, no-smoking campus policies, and a ban on smoking marketing.
Price Increases
Higher prices drive down the affordability of tobacco products and, consequently, result in a deterrent to new users and those who have already become regular consumers and ultimately reduce addiction to tobacco, especially among adolescents and low-income persons who are more price-sensitive.
Access Restrictions
If appropriate restrictions are imposed on the supply of tobacco among minors, it can stop youth from initiating the habit. This could be done through techniques like age regulations, store licensing requirements, and fines on individuals selling tobacco to minors.
Community-Based Initiatives
Getting communities involved in tobacco prevention activities can help mobilize local resources and support networks to promote smoke-free environments and give cessation support to those who wish to overcome their smoking addiction. Community-based projects may entail collaborations with local groups, companies, and healthcare professionals.
Cessation Support Services
Offering accessible and inexpensive tobacco addiction treatment, such as counseling, medicine, quitlines, and support groups, can assist existing tobacco users in quitting effectively. These programs should be designed to meet the requirements of varied groups while also addressing barriers to quitting.
Cessation Resources
Smoking cessation programs help reduce the extent of tobacco use. They provide accurate information and guidance to people who want to quit smoking. It includes treatment programs that help people overcome their addiction and quit consuming tobacco in any form.
Quitlines
Quit Lines are telephone-based services that provide counseling to people struggling with addiction to tobacco. They also help people in finding nearby addiction treatment centers, from where they can get professional help.
Therapy Programs and Treatments
Tobacco addiction treatment uses nicotine replacement therapy. Nicotine replacement therapies help people manage withdrawal symptoms and constant cravings. It replaces strong nicotine substances with milder ones, such as nicotine chewing gums and patches.
Mobile Applications and Online Tools
People can also benefit from websites and tools available on mobile applications and online sites which makes it easier to overcome smoking addiction. Such resources include supervision, goal-setting tools, interactive tasks, stop motion control, a community table, and motivating messages for the users who may use them to stay dedicated and committed.
Support Groups
Support groups is important in addiction recovery. It provides a safe place for people where they can share their addiction problems, and the toll it takes on their health and support each other. For example, the Nicotine Anonymous group offers a safe and supportive place for people who want to stop using tobacco.
Breaking Free From the Grip of Tobacco
Even with the initiatives undertaken, there are still challenges to making a free country. A well-established tobacco industry, widespread use of tobacco-related products amongst people, or a lack of awareness are some challenges that make this journey hard.
However, with joint and consistent efforts, we can overcome tobacco use. By providing support and treatment to people struggling with addiction, society as a whole can break free from addiction.
