Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, May 31: On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, worrying data has emerged that places Jammu and Kashmir among the top six states and union territories in India with the highest prevalence of tobacco use.
According to health officials, more than 20 per cent of the population in J&K is engaged in some form of tobacco consumption.
An official informed that smoking tobacco in the region stands at a prevalence rate of 20.8%. This ranks J&K sixth in the country, following Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. However, the use of smokeless tobacco is significantly lower in the region at just 4.3%, making it the second-lowest in the country after Himachal Pradesh.
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS 2) data, 35.2% of men and 5.1% of women in J&K smoke tobacco, with an overall adult prevalence of 20.8%. In terms of smokeless tobacco, 6.8% of men and 1.5% of women—4.3% of all adults—are current users. Altogether, 39.7% of men and 6.2% of women—23.7% of all adults—either smoke or use smokeless tobacco.
The official said that in the past five years, the government has implemented a slew of measures to curb tobacco consumption. “Thousands of challans have been issued and lakhs of rupees collected in fines from violators found smoking in public places,” he said.
He added that many individuals in the Kashmir Valley have quit smoking over the years, supported by widespread counselling and pharmacotherapy sessions. Awareness drives are also being carried out across the region to inform the public of the serious health risks associated with tobacco use.
“If we are able to make people aware and conscious about the dangers of tobacco, there won’t be a need for enforcement,” he said, emphasising the importance of education over punishment.
In line with national guidelines under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, enforcement drives are being conducted regularly. Officials have also been directed to make sure that educational institutions and tourist destinations remain tobacco-free zones.
J&K has also imposed a complete ban on the sale of loose cigarettes, beedis, and tobacco, aiming to limit accessibility and deter casual consumption.
Health experts warn that smokers and tobacco users are 2.5 times more likely to develop tuberculosis (TB), with tobacco use known to raise the risk of TB, cause recurrence, and impair treatment. Officials urged the public to quit tobacco now for a healthier future.
Globally, tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable deaths, claiming over seven million lives annually, with more than one million deaths occurring in India alone.
Kashmir has also witnessed a rising trend in tobacco-related illnesses, particularly lung cancer, which is now the second most common cancer in the region. Hospital data indicates that men are disproportionately affected, with a direct link between smoking duration, frequency, and the development of cancer.
Though the risk of cancer persists even after quitting, experts assure that the chances decrease significantly over time, making early cessation critical. (KNO)
