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Tuesday, September 6, 2011

KICK THE BUTT !



Tobacco consumption continues to be one of  the leading causes of death in the world. As research and findings continue to show the negative effects of tobacco consumption on health, the number of affected people increases, especially in India

The psychological effects of smoking are indeed “devastating”. Once the puffing habit has been established, the smoker needs to continue the habit in order to feel “normal.” In other words, the dependence produced by nicotine, and the behaviors associated with inhaling it, become necessary to maintain the person’s optimal state of well-being.

This includes both psychological and physiological reinforcements which are constantly needed. The smoker then actually becomes accustomed to having a level of nicotine in the body. In fact, research studies have shown that sub consciously smokers regulate the number of cigarettes they smoke in order to maintain their own personally preferred level of nicotine.It varies from individual to individual.

 The usage of tobacco is an activity that is practiced by some 1.1 billion people, and up to 1/3 of the adult population. Smoking is known to have many ill-effects on health and most of us are aware of the dangers of smoking on general health. 

WHO data shows that whilst progress has been made, not a single country fully implements all key tobacco control measures. An outlined approach that governments can adopt to prevent tens of millions of premature deaths by the middle of this century had to be worked out.

Smoking in public places has been banned in India since October 2008. The health officials are caught with the staggering tough task of about an estimated 125 million smokers to stub out their cigarettes! The WHO reports it to be the leading preventable cause of death worldwide and estimates that it currently causes 5.4 million deaths per year. Rates of smoking have leveled off or declined in many countries, however they continue to rise in some developing countries like India,inspite of the ban!

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine said India is in the grip of a smoking epidemic that is likely to cause nearly 1 million deaths a year by 2010. More than half of these deaths would be among the poor and illiterate people, the study said.

What people tend to ignore is the impact of smoking on oral health. We easily associate smoking with lung cancer but another major bad effect of smoking is oral cancer.  India is the largest producer and exporter of tobacco in the World.  The total tobacco production in India is about 700 million kilos annually.

Smoking is known to have many ill-effects on health and most of us are aware of the dangers of smoking on general health. What people tend to ignore is the impact of smoking on oral health. We easily associate smoking with lung cancer but another major bad effect of smoking is oral cancer. Nearly 90% of all Oral Cancer patients are smokers!

India's ban on smoking was opposed by the tobacco companies and hotel industry. Smoking is legally prohibited in public places such as offices, hotels, restaurants and most importantly hospitals.I have seen many continue to smoke in all these places!Who is supposed to punish those who defy the ban?

This wicked tobacco industry has not spared our innocent children too. Each day 55,000 children in India start using tobacco of which almost 5 million children under the age of fifteen are addicted to tobacco. The plus point is the ban has been widened to cover college campuses, discotheques and bars. So,has it worked? Seen the ban being kicked more than the butt!

The public ie;you and me have a prominent role to play in tobacco control.

Eliminating the use of tobacco in various forms (paan, zarda, paan masala) through control programs and public education can go a long way in reducing the incidence of oral cancer.

The effectiveness of this approach has been demonstrated in the west where the incidence of lung cancer has come down drastically in the last decade with heightened public awareness about the effects of smoking.

 In India due to lack of motivation,varied culture, habits and educational levels, an active anti-tobacco policy in addition may be the only way to ensure a ‘no tobacco’ generation.

Has the ban really worked? I have my serious doubts.

It’s not just the time to look for actions and answers but most importantly emphasize enforcement and implementation.

Kick the Butt and not the Ban!




8 comments:

  1. 34 cases have been registered by the police of Erode corporation in three years!!The ban is ineffectual.As far as people kicking the butt,i c no possibilities!!

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  2. Yeah Rajeev...Wonder when the Ban would be enforced! Check Singapore Law Enforcement! It seems pretty effective!Wish one day this country is also able to DO something about Implementation!

    Thank you for sharing Rajeev

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  3. I am trying to quit smoking and every time I try, I smoke more. Clueless on how to proceed kick this habit. I think the primary health centres and hospitals should have a dedicated program on tobacco cessation along with the ban to make any progress on this health hazard. But this ban is also a front for policemen to be rude to smokers and also a harassment tool, and not to say the bribery aspect to this. Thank you for this post. :)

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  4. Thank you Sastha Prakash for sharing....Many people have expressed the same to me about the "harassment" part!...Our cops need lots more training on behaviour and manners! Hope one day i would be able to see at least a reduced number of passive smokers!...Would also recommend Hypnosis for you as a tool for quitting!

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  5. I don't smoke hence, cannot talk for the habitual smoker. But, there is nothing more irritating than being in their company. Carrying on a conversation with a guy(s) exuding smoke through every possible hole available in the countenance is simply oppressive to adhere to. We getting to inhale their waste adds to our agony of passive smoking.

    Like prostitution, smoking too is an ancient obsession. It has evolved over the centuries and in fact has acquired an insignia for status, manliness, modernity and socially upper class belonging. Other than stinking and staining, I don't see any positive virtue that could be commendable in smoking.

    Therefore, for all you guys & gals out there who enjoy smoking, please do so but not at the cost of non-smoker's health, non-smoker's space, non-smoker's right to object and non-smoker's right to Live!

    Excellent and educative piece of writing, Mataji!

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  6. Hey thanx a ton for sharing Prash!
    Surely hope all would follow your suggestion I quote "Therefore, for all you guys & gals out there who enjoy smoking, please do so but not at the cost of non-smoker's health, non-smoker's space, non-smoker's right to object and non-smoker's right to Live!"
    Grateful to you for the kind words! Keep reading on!

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  7. smoking banned?? i guess there's a law but it isn't followed.. anywhere as far as i know...
    as a non smoker inhaling the smoke exuded by smokers is one thing.. but despite not being in smoker company you're still subjected to hazardous levels of smoke when you step out of the house.. it's all interrelated.. i guess the public needs to be educated at a more basic level of civil behavior than we can imagine

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  8. Matey Ushy Kushy
    Commented on this as I smoke 30 am in stages of quitting started homeo de adiction medicines this year
    *I* *W*I*L*L* *Q*U*I*T* *S*M*O*K*I*N*G*
    I PROMISE THAT MA
    For Dhruv Divya & Shree
    Dhruv has been telling me again & again & again
    The damage is done
    But my breathing will improve
    Pray for me
    Awesome Blog Ushy
    You have a WOW command over language, Capitalisation, and punctuation, WHICH I DON'T !!!
    Awesome blog
    Love it
    Love & Regards

    VenuG
    PS I dont follow many blogs :)

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