Orissa tops in tobacco consumption: NIH Survey

Orissa has the dubious distinction of being the leader state in terms of tobacco consumption. As per the National Institute of Health (NIH) survey, one-third of its population is in the habit of consuming tobacco.However, the women population in Mizoram tops the chart in consumption of tobacco closely followed by their Orissa counterparts. At least 50 percent of the Orissa women in the age group of 15 and above are addicted to tobacco. Either they chew the tobacco or take it in other form. The number of population consuming tobacco has increased over the years. Earlier, the women of the state only consumed betel, dukta and gudkhu (a form of tobacco made up of tobacco and molasses). However, with the passage of time, the number of women taking smoking has gradually taken an upward trend. It has grown at an average rate of 1.1 per cent to 2.9 per cent per annum, the survey pointed out.The survey also reveals that tobacco use during pregnancy as well as exposure of pregnant women and their young children to second-hand smoke has also pressed the alarm bells. It reveals that one-third of all pregnant women in Orissa consume smokeless tobacco and most are often exposed to second-hand smoke. Smokeless tobacco use can lead to oral and pancreatic cancers and incidentally these are on rapid rise in the state.On the other hand, the educated population of the state has taken gutkha and khani (tobacco power) in a bigger way.