New Delhi, July 29 (FN Bureau) Around 42 crore people across the country and 8.5 per cent of teenagers up to the age of 15 years consume tobacco in some form, said doctors during a digital conference to address tobacco use among youth. Deputy Director at Directorate General of Health Services, Dr L Swasticharan, who was the keynote speaker at the conference said loose sales and easy access are aiding in the increased consumption of tobacco among the youth. The discussion “Youth Health and Wellness: Doctors’ Dialogue on Reducing Tobacco Consumption in India,” was held by ten medical practitioners from nine health specialities who are involved with youth from more than six networks and institutions, including IIT Delhi, Delhi University, Amity, Yuva and Bihar Youth for Child Rights. “India is the second largest consumer of tobacco in the world and the third largest producer.
Tobacco use is a major cause of over one million deaths annually in the country. At the same time, 42 crore people in India use tobacco both in the form of smokeless chewing and cigarettes. Similarly, 8.5% of students in the age group of 13-15 use tobacco in some form or the other,” the panellists said. “The availability and loose sales of cigarettes and chewable tobacco have increased the consumption among the youth,” Dr Swasticharan said. Meanwhile, the doctors also discussed in detail the mental health and gynaecological problems caused by tobacco. Rehabilitation psychologist Dr Neelam Mishra said that tobacco addiction affects people to depend on its products while making decisions. “People start to obsessively think about tobacco right from the very early consumption. They associate their decision-making process with it. The need to do any other work, including smoking or the use of smokeless tobacco, affects work,” she added. Meanwhile, Dr Mukta Agarwal noted that women are more at risk of developing cancer than men. Also, prolonged use severely affects the reproductive health of women. “The effect of tobacco consumption is much higher on the body of women than men. The risk of cancer in women is 2 to 8 times higher. It can cause loss of libido and infertility in both men and women. Tobacco use in women can lead to fertility problems like miscarriage, fatigue, early menopause and even giving birth to stillborn babies,” she informed.