eCigarettes taking toll on public health

Secunderabad: As per the survey of Dental Association, Deccan branch, even kids under 14-16 ages are addicted to tobacco in Telangana, especially to electronic cigarette and it has become a modern trend.

As per Ministry of Health and Family Welfare advisory issued in August 2018, to stop sale, manufacture, distribution of electronic cigarette in Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Jharkhand the governments have already banned the product and very soon there will be a ban in Telangana also.

According to the estimation survey done by the Indian Health Ministry, by 2020, tobacco will be responsible for 13% of all deaths in India and also the survey justifies that this issue leads to the huge burden of diseases, disability and deaths, and demands for high health care.

According to a recent report, 17.8% of people are addicted to tobacco in Telangana.

Addressing this issue, the Voluntary Health Association of India and Indian Dental Association Deccan Branch called a press conference on the occasion of the World No Smoking Day.

Dr A Srikanth, secretary, Dental Association, Deccan branch, spoke about the electronic cigarette: "It is harmful as the normal cigarette and as it is found in various tempting flavors it is attracting teens now-a-days.

The key ingredients of electronic cigarette are propylene glycol and nicotine and these materials are the main reason for damaging the lungs."

Dr Venkat Rao, state project manager, Voluntary Health Association of India, addressed the session about recent and upcoming developments on tobacco control.

He said, according to a recent report, 36 countries including India banned tobacco advertisements and production.

In the upcoming academic year of all the colleges in Telangana are requested to display 'No Smoking' boards on the college premises and also all the government and private colleges shall coordinate with Voluntary Health Association of India for any technical assistance and request them to organize half day sensitization program on tobacco control laws.

Very soon on the special occasions like World Canner Day, World Oral Day, they will organise awareness campaign on the tobacco.

According to the State government, in all ENT and dental centers in the patient OP sheet in the front page, the effects of tobacco will be printed.

Drug Control Authority issued an advisory to the principals of pharmacy colleges to make the pharmacy colleges tobacco-free.

Bhavana Mukhopadhyay, chief executive of Voluntary Health Association of India, spoke about the recent survey on tobacco.

As per Global Adult Survey of India 2016-17, 17.8% of adults use tobacco in some or other form and 50% are men and 14% are women.