It is important to raise a voice and spread awareness about certain issues in our society. World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is celebrated on May 31 every year to make people aware of the detrimental effects of tobacco consumption. Every year, WHO tries to spread awareness about certain issues related to health problems and other basic problems caused by the use or consumption of tobacco. In 2019, they focused on “tobacco and lung health” and covered every aspect of it. Tobacco is harmful to the people consuming it. However, it isn’t very clear how it affects the people and surroundings around a tobacco consumer.
Tobacco is an agricultural crop and is grown all over the world. It is a nervous system stimulant that triggers complex biochemical and neurotransmitter disruptions when consumed. Its leaves contain high levels of the addictive chemical nicotine which is harmful to health and causes adverse effects. Generally, people consume tobacco leaves via smoking through cigarettes, cigars, and pipes or apply to the gums while dipping and chewing tobacco and also through inhaling as snuff. Tobacco through cigarette smoking causes releases of multiple harmful gases effects onto our surroundings. It’s not only the cigarette smoke that adversely impacts on people’s health and the environment but also the cigarette buds and other wastes released during the entire production process of cigarettes. Some of the most dangerous diseases caused by the intake of tobacco or its substances are tuberculosis, cancer, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, ectopic pregnancy, etc. Consumption of tobacco also makes a person very likely to experience various cardiovascular problems and even heart attacks. Statistics reveal that the consumption of any form of tobacco by 13 to 15-year-old students is greater than 10%. Also, almost one in four students (13-15 years old) who ever smoked cigarettes smoked their first cigarette before the age of 10. Most of the college-going students and children who are unaware of tobacco’s harms tend to get addicted to it and walk towards destroying their health. It is our job to make them aware of the harmful effects of tobacco addiction and help them in getting rid of this addiction.
It’s high time that we understand how swiftly this problem is affecting our health and our environment. It is important to organize and participate in campaigns against the use of tobacco in any way of consumption. The word needs to reach out to the lower parts of our society as they are the ones who need to be made aware of WNTD and its significance. The issue needs to be understood and worked upon right from the roots of our society to make it a success.
Luvpreet Singh