Nearly half of all adults in Assam consume tobacco: Survey
Nearly 50% of all adults in Assam are tobacco users, according to a survey. Around 48.2% of adults in Assam, of whom 62.9% are men and 32.9% women, either consume smoke tobacco or use smokeless tobacco, the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2 (GATS2) said. It said that 13.3% of all adults in Assam currently smoke tobacco and 41.7% of the adults use smokeless tobacco.
'Khaini', betel quid with tobacco most commonly used tobacco products
Noting that 'Khaini' (chewing tobacco with lime) and betel quid with tobacco are the most commonly used tobacco products in Assam, the survey said 23.1% of the adults use Khaini and 19.0% use betel quid with tobacco.
Mean age at initiation of tobacco use increased by 0.4%
The mean age at initiation of tobacco use has increased from 18.1 years in GATS1 to 18.5 years in GATS2. Consumer Legal Protection Forum (CLPF) Assam, an NGO that has initiated several tobacco-related intervention programs in the state, today said the state has shown a significant rise in tobacco consumption from 39.3% during the last survey in 2009-10 to 48.2% now.
Govt needs to strengthen tobacco control efforts: CLPF Secretary
The prevalence of smokeless tobacco use in Assam has increased significantly by 9%, Secretary of the CLPF, Ajay Hazarika, said. "The ascent in tobacco consumption in Assam is an indicator that government needs to strengthen tobacco control efforts and people need more awareness on the health and financial burden that tobacco use brings with it," the CLPF Secretary said.
Rising tobacco use, a cause of worry for children: NGO
"The rise in the number of tobacco users especially smokeless is a cause of worry because it's easily accessible to children. We're working in Assam through our programs to protect the public from exposure to tobacco use," said Ashim Sanyal, Chief Operating Officer of Consumer VOICE, an NGO. According to the GATS2 survey, tobacco use is the leading single preventable cause of deaths worldwide.
