A recent study has revealed that tobacco use is becoming the most widespread cause of many diseases and deaths. It affects not only those who use it but also those who cultivate it. To tackle the tobacco industry, we need to understand the current trends of tobacco use and consumption, for which the latest data is required.Tobacco is the most widely recognised preventable cause of disease and death in the world.India has the world’s second-highest (after China) number of tobacco consumers, with nearly 26 crore people.
Key Facts about Tobacco Usage
- Tobacco kills up to half of its users who don’t quit.
- Tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year, including an estimated 1.3 million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke.
- In India, nearly 1.35 million die every year due to use of tobacco.
- Around 80% of the world’s 1.3 billion tobacco users live in low- and middle-income countries.
- In 2020, 22.3% of the world’s population used tobacco
Statistics About Tobacco Consumption in India
- No Significant Decrease of Bidi or Cigarette Consumption: As per National Family Health Survey (NFHS) there is no significant difference in the reduction of bidi or cigarette consumption between National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) and non-NTCP districts.Possible reasons for this may be insufficient staffing, resource allocation, and utilisation, and lack of effective monitoring mechanisms.
- Cigarettes and Bidis Have Become More Affordable: In the past 10 years, cigarettes, bidis, and smokeless tobacco products (SLTs) have become cheaper.Goods and Services Tax (GST) system has made them even more affordable due to integrated tax system which lowered the prices.
- Tobacco Use Higher Among Womens: Tobacco use has declined in all groups, except for women where use increased by 2.1% between 2015 and 2021.
World No Tobacco Day
- World No Tobacco Day is observed on 31st May.
- World No Tobacco Day was created in 1987 by the Member States of the World Health Organization to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and its consequences.
- The day aims to inform the public about the dangers of using tobacco.
- It also encourages people around the world to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations.
- Theme for 2024: “Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference”
- The day serves as a reminder of the preventable death and disease caused by tobacco use, and highlights the importance of tobacco control policies and interventions.