World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on 31st May and on this occasion, let us remember to reduce the use of tobacco, say experts.
Tobacco Use: Glamorizing Addiction
A 15-year-old boy recently watched the movie ‘KGF: Chapter 2’ thrice, and under the heavy influence of its lead character ‘Rocky Bhai’, the boy smokes a pack of cigarettes, and falls seriously ill, only A medical hospital.
Timely treatment ensured that the boy was brought out of immediate danger; But there are many less privileged children who smoke tobacco under the influence of cinema, and develop significant health risks, doctors say.
world no tobacco day
On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, doctors stressed the need to raise awareness about the ill effects of smoking and chewing tobacco and even alcohol consumption, especially among youth and women.
Cancer cases are increasing in India and curbing tobacco use is the best way to tackle this issue.
Commenting on the reasons why youth smoke, Dr. Ramah Waghmare, Consultant Oncologist, Amor Hospitals said: “Cinema has a huge impact on people, especially the youth, who tend to imitate deity characters from those films. Try what they see. Glorifying smoking on the silver screen and posting a small and insignificant statutory warning in a corner of the screen would not do well. There are many actors who smoke in their real life, and for these stars Fans who follow her personal life take inspiration from her regular life. Lifestyle too. Therefore, it is important that cinema and its people do not glamorize smoking tobacco in any form, on or off screen.”
“Cigarette smoking has been increasing in India over the past few decades. Although the rate of growth has slowed in recent years, it is still at an alarming level, higher among women. If cigarette smoking continues at this rate Among the youth, we can see an increase in heart disease patients, cancer patients and even premature mortality, leading to health emergencies in the country,” said senior consultant, Department of Surgical Oncology and Chief Nagendra Parvatneni said in KIMS hospitals.
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Dr. Sudhir Prasad, Consultant Pulmonologist, Aware Gleneagles Global Hospital said that three leading film actors, each with a huge fan base, have come together to promote a particular brand.
“Although the claim is that they are promoting only flavored cardamom, the fact is something else. That ad is a surrogate means to promote ‘pan masala’ or a form of chewable tobacco with the same brand name It is extremely unfortunate that these so-called superstars of Indian cinema are promoting such harmful products for money.”
“Adolescents are most vulnerable to starting tobacco use. It is now an established fact that many adult smokers will smoke for the first time only after entering high school or college. Therefore it is the duty of society to adolescents. General and parents to ensure that the child does not get the motivation to smoke. When a father or another elder in the family consumes tobacco, there is a high probability of a youth in the household smoking for fun. It is important that we reduce smoking to the extent possible and ensure that we are not taking the future of this society in the wrong direction.”
Source: IANS
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