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EDITORIAL |
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| Year : 2008 | Volume
: 26
| Issue : 2 | Page : 48 |
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Tobacco…. What the future beholds
SG Damle
Editor in Chief, JISPPD, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana (Ambala) 133203 Haryana, India
Correspondence Address:
S G Damle
Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana (Ambala) 133203 Haryana
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0970-4388.41614
How to cite this article:
Damle S G. Tobacco…. What the future beholds. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 2008;26:48 |
Each year, the 31 st of May is celebrated as the 'No Tobacco Day,' with various antitobacco campaigns carried out with great zeal and enthusiasm and many public protests against tobacco and tobacco products. Unfortunately, all these soon die down like the fizz in a soda bottle and an important issue is brushed back under the carpet until the next 'No Tobacco Day.' What we fail to understand is that the No Tobacco Day is not just a one-off event; it is an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the battle against this heinous, addictive substance. On this day we all should take an oath that we will abolish and prevent the use of all forms of tobacco, so that future generations can be assured of a better tomorrow.
Children are the future of the nation. Over the years, there has been a steady increase in the consumption of tobacco among children, which is also reflected in the increase in the prevalence of oral cancer and precancerous lesions among the future citizens of the nation. It is unfortunate that this serious issue is not being tackled with the determination that it deserves. Placing a simple statutory warning on the packages of tobacco products does not serve much purpose: consumers either do not understand the gravity of the problem or else they choose to remain ignorant.
The situation is further worsened when prominent Bollywood actors promote smoking on the silver screen. Youngsters, due to their emotional immaturity, indiscriminately imitate their matinee idols, imagining that they too can carry out heroic deeds like their screen role models. Some time back legislation was passed banning the display of smoking in movies and on television. The Honorable Union Minister of India, had appealed to the actors not to promote tobacco products, but his sincere efforts were criticized by the media, with statements being made that the Health Minister would be better advised to look after more important issues such as communicable diseases, malaria, etc. It seems that the seriousness of the problem is still not completely understood.
Various studies and experiments have confirmed the role of tobacco in the development of oral cancer. India has been labeled as the land of oral cancer. It has been reported that 33-38% of all cancers reported in India are oral or oropharyngeal cancers. These are alarming figures; the management and treatment of cancers places a great burden on the individual and the family as well as on the government treasury. Apart from the monetary aspect, the pain and anguish suffered by the patient is unimaginable. Undoubtedly, it is important to pay attention to the control of other diseases, but if tobacco is overlooked future generations will never pardon us![Figure 1]
[Figure 1]
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