We celebrateor observe World No Tobacco Day every year on May 31 but how effective it is. Theconsumption of tobacco is increasing day by day and according to the Global AdultTobacco Survey (GATS) 48.2% of all adults uses all types of tobacco in 2016-17 whichwas 39.3% in 2009-10.
Whereas, thenational statistics shows that 28.6% of all adults use all kinds of tobacco inthe national level which means Assam records an increase of 19.6% in tobaccoconsumption.
According toGATS, 14.4% of the adults use smoking in 2010 while in 2016-17, 13.3% of theadults use smoking tobacco. But the use of smokeless tobacco is stillprevailing in the society and 41.7% of the adults use smokeless tobacco whichwas 32.7% in 2009-10.
According tothe survey of GATS, 50.5% of men and 32.5% of women and 41.7% of all adults areusing smokeless tobacco in Assam which is a matter of serious concern. The useof smokeless tobacco is mostly prevailing in Assam which is a threat to thesociety. 26.1% of smokers were advised by a health care provider to quitsmoking and 30.2% of smokeless tobacco users are advised by health careprovider to quit smokeless tobacco.
Meanwhile,the Gauhati High Court has also declared the Assam Health Prohibition Act 2013as void in 2017 and unfortunately, this comes as a major blow to the AssamGovernment's step to prevent rampant rise in cancer cases as the Act aims toprohibit manufacture, store and sale of smokeless tobacco in the state.
