ANTI-
TOBACCO
CAMPAIGN
‘Tobacco is a terrorist that makes you hollow
day by day and then ends your life’
Table of Content :
- Basic Information About Tobacco
- Affect on Health
- Tobacco Economy
- Tobacco Control 3.0 in India
- Is Tobacco Control Failing?
- Conclusion: From Ban and Black Market to Educate and
Regulate
BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT TOBACCO
(How it's Made)
1. Definition: Tobacco is a plant (Nicotiana tabacum) whose leaves are used to produce tobacco products.
2. Active ingredient: Nicotine, a highly addictive stimulant.
3. Forms: Cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, e-cigarettes, and hookah.
4. History: Originated in the Americas over 2,000 years ago; popularized in Europe in the 16th century.
5. Global use: Over 1 billion people worldwide use tobacco; 80% in low- and middle-income countries.
6. Health impact: Leading cause of preventable death, with more than 7 million annual deaths.
7. Addiction: Nicotine is highly addictive, making it hard to quit.
8. Regulation: Subject to various laws, regulations, and taxes globally.
WHAT TOBACCO CONTAINS
Carbon Monoxide
(released in car exhaust fumes)
Ammonia
(Common household cleaner)
Lead
(in batteries)
Formaldehyde
(known as embalming fluid)
Tar
(material for paving roads) Acetone
(in nail polish remover)
Arsenic
(in rat poison) Cadmium
(in battery acid)
Butane
(in lighter fluid) Acetic Acid
(ingredient in hair dye)
Affect on Health
Tobacco use has severe health consequences, including lung cancer, heart disease,
COPD, oral cancer, respiratory problems, premature birth, gum disease, eye
problems, weakened bones, and increased risk of infections. Quitting tobacco can
significantly reduce the risk of developing these health issues and improve overall
health and well-being.
We Will Focus On Two Main Factor
Busting Myths : Does Nicotine Cause Cancer?
Psychological Drivers Of Tobacco Use
Busting Myths: Does Nicotine Cause Cancer?
1. In a world of information overload and social media,
misconceptions about nicotine exist.
2. Nicotine itself is not the primary cause of cancer;
harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke are.
3. Nicotine, addictive but relatively harmless, is found
in plants other than tobacco.
4. Over 7,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke harm
health, not nicotine.
5. Nicotine products can reduce anxiety and stress,
when inhaled, nicotine reaches the circulatory
system in about 20 seconds, causing euphoria.
Psychological Drivers Of Tobacco Use:
Tobacco poses a significant public health challenge in India, with
complex factors including economic development, psychological
influences, and social factors. Understanding these aspects is crucial for
effective intervention strategies to reduce tobacco consumption.
Some are also the reason as follows -
Peer Pressure and Social
74% of total tobacco users have an
Acceptance
adult smoker in their family.*
Stress and Anxiety
Pleasure and Happy Feeling
Self Confidence
Reduce Hunger
Reduce Boredom
Tobacco Consumption Determinants (In percentage %)
Based on survey report by " Human Centric Approach to Tobacco
Control"
Reduce Boredom and Pleasure and Stress, Anxiety and
Self Confidence
Hunger Happy Feeling Peer Influence
TOBACCO ECONOMY: from deficit to surplus
1. India must address several pressing issues, one of which is the regulation of its tobacco sector - a
sector that has the potential to shift from economic deficit to surplus earnings if managed with a
visionary and practical approach. India stands as the world’s second largest producer of tobacco
with an annual production of around 800 million Kgs, and a leading tobacco exporter. The average
annual revenue collection from tobacco products for the years 2019 to 2021, stood at about INR
53,750 crore. The tobacco industry employs approximately 45.7 million people across farming,
processing, manufacturing, and related export activities, generating over INR 12,000 crore in
foreign exchange annually.
2.
3. The recent proposal by the government to expand Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) restrictions in
the tobacco sector could exacerbate these economic challenges. By adopting a balanced, forward -
thinking policy framework, India can transform it’s tobacco sector from a sector of economic deficit
to a driver of surplus earnings, ensuring sustainable growth and prosperity.
TOBACCO CONTROL 3.0 IN INDIA:
1. Countries including India are following World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention
on Tobacco Control (FCTC). According to the ‘Human- Centric Approach for Tobacco Control’
report, it is estimated that by the year 2030 more than 80 percent of the tobacco related deaths are
likely to be among the low and middle income countries (LMICs).
2.
3. 27% percent of Indian adults engage in tobacco consumption and the country is ranked second in
usage, globally. 38% of adult males in India consume tobacco compared to 9% adult females, 1%
of GDP lost every year to diseases. Public health experts agreed that cessation remains the quickest
way to lessen deaths from tobacco. A diverse array of alternative products and cessation
techniques have proven to be effective in aiding individuals in their journey towards quitting
tobacco. For the same the government has increased expenses on public health over the last few
years.
4.
5.
1. Individuals who are unable to quit smoking should be encouraged to switch to less hazardous
alternatives, there can be an enhanced focus on making nicotine reduction techniques (NRTs)
affordable and accessible to the general audience.
2.
3. There is also a need to increase investment in nationwide mass media campaigns and
encouraging there support for cessation. This campaign could draw inspiration from the
Pulse Polio Campaign that led to the country being declared polio free. There is also a
need to provide incentives to manufacturers to develop products that reduce exposure to
tobacco toxicants while delivering similar consumer experiences.
4.
5. For individuals who are not willing to quit tobacco, switching to less harmful nicotine
products could offer huge benefits.
6.
7. By persistently addressing the multidimensional challenges posed by tobacco, India can
pave the way for a healthier smoke- free future for individuals and communities across the
nation.
8.
IS TOBACCO CONTROL FAILING ?
1. Higher taxes on tobacco products force individuals to spend more of their limited income on these
products, exacerbating their financial difficulties. Tobacco users face high healthcare costs due to
tobacco-related diseases, further straining their finances.
2.
3. The ‘Human-Centric Approach to Tobacco Control’ report provides a detailed snapshot of tobacco
and nicotine product usage in India. India has one the highest rates of tobacco usage globally.
4.
5. Notably, legally produced cigarettes account for only 8% of overall tobacco consumption, with the
remaining 92% being cheaper products like bidis and chewing tobacco. The National Family
Health Survey 2019-21 (NFHS-5) highlights a significant disparity in tobacco usage between men
and women.
1. While tobacco consumption female is gradually increasing, driven by factors such as stress and
shifting social norms, males still have a significant higher rate of tobacco consumption.
2.
3. In rural India, bidis are widely consumed due to their affordability, despite being more harmful
than cigarettes because of their higher concentration of toxic substances and lack of filter. 45% of
young adults cannot quit smoking or chewing tobacco due to a lack of alternatives, despite
nearly half attempting to quit in the past year.
4.
5. A complete ban on tobacco is impractical as it would negatively impact farmers engaged in
tobacco cultivation. In conclusion, addressing the tobacco epidemic in India requires a
multifaceted approach that balances regulation, education and cultural sensitivity to create
lasting change and promote a healthier society.
CONCLUSION: FROM BAN AND BLACK MARKET TO
EDUCATE AND REGULATE
1. From Ban and Black Market to Educate and Regulate, cigarettes account for a mere 8% of the
overall tobacco consumption in India. Not only are counterfeit products a menace but even
banned products like e-cigarettes and vapes have swiftly risen to prominence in the grey
market.
2.
3. Despite the 2019 Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), that prohibits their
manufacturing, selling, distribution, and possession of e-cigarettes,
4. The objective of PECA 2019 in India was to protect public health, prevent initiation and support
the tobacco control efforts, but the reality seems starky different.
5.
6.
Addiction, Health Risks & Economic Burden:
The Triple Threat of Banned Tobacco Products in India,
There is no control over who is buying these devices or whether they are of legal age. Basy
availability of such products fosters un environment where peer pressure and enticing
flavours overshadow awareness of addiction risks among young adults.Tobacco use in
India imposes a substantial economic burden, amounting to about 1% of the GDP,
according to the report 'Human-Centric Approach To Tobacco Control’
THREAT:
A recent report by WHO suggests that new cancer cases are likely to rise to at least thirty-
five
million in 2050, a/77% rise over the cases diagnosed in 2022. In India, an estimated 1.4
million cancer cases were recorded in the same year, while one in nine citizens could
develop cancer in their lifetime.
