More Awareness Needed On Tobacco Usage Among Youngsters: Experts Suggest

ISLAMABAD, Feb 4 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 04th Feb, 2018 ) :The Medical experts on Sunday have expressed serious concern over growing trend of tobacco use among youths, calling for strict implementation of laws relating to sale of cigarettes, Gutka and chaliya.

Cancer Specialist Prof Mohammad Zubair Khan, in an interview with private news channel in connection of world Cancer day pointed out that comprehensive tobacco control programmes and coordinated efforts are essential in preventing tobacco use among youth and adults to promote tobacco users to quit, to eliminate second hand smoke exposure, and to identify and eliminate tobacco-related disparities.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of deaths related to cancer. It causes lung cancer, mouth and throat cancer, stomach and kidney cancer and etc, he said. Dr said the tobacco control could break the cycle of poverty, contribute to ending hunger, promote sustainable agriculture and economic growth and combat climate change The expert said that the tendency of cigarette smoking and chewing of tobacco with beetle leaves was high in developing countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and India.

Prevention of heart diseases, chest diseases, cancers of mouth, throat, tongue and stomach, and disease of teeth was possible by quitting smoking. The expert said that informing people about the dangers of tobacco use was the responsibility of print and electronic media, the government and the health organizations plus smokers themselves should try earnestly to quit this dangerous habit.

Health warnings such as picture warnings have been proven to be particularly effective in making smokers quit, he added. Health expert are of the view that the number of cancer patients, particularly mouth cancer, is increasing due to gutka with the each passing day.

They say youths quickly become addict to gutka who use it as a `fad' despite being aware of its dangerous impacts on health. He also stressed the need launching a comprehensive and massive awareness campaigns with a special focus in educational instructions.

Dr Muhammad Aslam, a senior physician said use of gutka was extremely injurious to health. "We trying to warn people about the dangers of gutka but the people have become addicted to it," he said.