it hollows it so much that the life of the person consuming it becomes worse than hell after crossing the age of 50. This is the irony of our country that we write warnings on all packets of cigarettes and pan masala but it has not been implemented till date.
Many times we make our body such habits, due to which we ourselves become a victim of our death. Tobacco is becoming the second biggest cause of all deaths in the world today. About 19 to 20 crore people of our country are victims of tobacco addiction. People use bidi, cigarette, gutka, khaini. Every year sooner or later people become victims of cancer due to this addiction.
The shocking thing is that 70 percent of these people become victims of cancer due to tobacco and cigarette. The entire focus of the government and non-governmental organizations is on how to make the society cancer free. We also celebrate anti-tobacco day every year, but the ground reality tells something else.
Data from World Health Organization and fatal effects of smoking
Data from World Health Organization (WHO) shows that 70 to 80 lakh people die suddenly every year due to smoking. This figure shows the magnitude of this problem. Recent research in America shows that men who smoke are 35 times more likely to get lung cancer, while women who smoke have 12 times more risk. These figures show that smoking is not just an addiction, but a serious health hazard. World Health Organization also believes that tobacco and cigarettes contain a compound called nicotine which attracts cigarette, bidi and tobacco consumers, making it very difficult to get rid of this addiction. Therefore, if you want to get rid of this addiction, then the only and sure cure is to stay away from this addiction.
Way forward: Education and collective effort
It is clear that relying only on government efforts is not enough to prevent deaths due to tobacco and smoking. Every person, every family and every organization of the society will have to work together. Students should be taught about its dangers in schools and colleges, and awareness campaigns should be run in public places.
Quitting tobacco is a difficult task, but not impossible. Those who want to get rid of this addiction should be provided medical help and counseling. Also, an environment has to be created in the society where smoking is not considered acceptable and a healthy lifestyle is encouraged. Only then will we be able to make our country tobacco free and healthy.
