Worsening Smokers
It pains to note that India ranks second in the number of cigarette smokers worldwide as per the recent report released by the International Commission to Reignite the Fight Against Smoking. For long, tobacco has been one of the leading causes of deaths in India. Statistics reveal that everyday around 3,200 persons in India under 18 smoke their first cigarette, and approximately 2,100 young adults become daily smokers. It also says that nine out of ten lung cancers are caused by cigarette smoking. (‘Adventures in Archives’ – “Defeating smoking”,
May 15).
Smoking affects the stomach-lining and intestines, and creates severe digestive problems. The smoke that goes in contains not only nicotine, but also soot (carbon particles) that is deposited on the walls of lungs. This reduces the capacity to breathe to a great extent and ultimately leads to diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Tar, which is a residue of burnt cigarette paper, is a carcinogen. This can lead to cancer of lungs and oesophagus. However much the thrust is on this anti-social practice, hardened smokers are reluctant to shun this pernicious habit.
There is a perceived notion among smokers that smoking keeps them brisk all through the day. On the contrary, cigarette smoking does make one lazy, as it affects the area of the brain responsible for motivation. Some of the ways by which the habit of smoking can be restricted are: a) constant publicity blitz against smoking should be organized in metros and class-II towns, b) total ban on sale of cigarettes and other tobaccorelated products in the vicinity of educational institutions, hospitals and worship places, c) catchy slogans like, “Quitters always win – Winners always quit” and “desist from running the white train in your lips”
can be put up in high traffic areas, besides being regularly carried in print and electronic media.
Cigarette smoking, no doubt, is a clear social menace, and if the smokers are unconcerned of their own health, let them at least not harm the health of non-smokers. Do not the non-smokers have every right to demand clean air?
Sivakumar Kumar siva19kumar@gmail.com