Srinagar, May 31 (KNO): On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, health experts in Kashmir have raised serious concerns over the rising trend of smoking and its strong association with cancer and drug abuse.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Dr Javid Ahmad Bhat, a general physician at the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) said tobacco consumption is one of the leading causes of death in Kashmir and remains a major contributor to the alarming rise in cancer cases. “If we truly want to eliminate this menace, the only effective solution is a blanket ban on the sale of tobacco products,” he asserted.
He said around 50,000 cancer cases have been reported in J&K in the last few years, with lung cancer being the most prevalent. Alarmingly, 90 per cent of lung cancer cases are directly linked to smoking, he informed.
The doctor further added that the widespread availability of tobacco, coupled with rising stress levels and social acceptability of smoking, has made it difficult to curb the habit. “Smoking is no longer seen as taboo, and that perception must change. It has also become a gateway to drug addiction—most drug abusers begin with smoking before being lured into more dangerous substances,” he said.
Several doctors, who spoke to KNO on the condition of anonymity, called for a comprehensive and enforced ban on tobacco. “On one hand, the government claims to protect public health, yet on the other, it permits the free sale of products that are killing thousands. These contradictory policies cannot coexist,” one doctor said.
Dr Mir Mushtaq, Block Medical Officer (BMO) Magam, who was previously holding charge of nodal officer for tobacco control and was awarded by WHO for his extraordinary work, told KNO that the situation is equally grave among the youth.
“About 25 per cent of school-going adolescents in Kashmir are smokers, and nearly all drug addicts start their journey with cigarette smoking,” he said.
Dr Mushtaq raised concerns about second-hand and third-hand smoking, which are often overlooked as second-hand smoke affects nearly 50 per cent of families, exposing them to serious health risks.
Third-hand smoke, he explained, refers to residual nicotine and harmful chemicals that settle on furniture, clothing, and other surfaces, posing long-term dangers, especially to children and the elderly.
“Cigarettes contain around 4,000 chemicals, of which 200 are hazardous and over 60 are proven carcinogens. Smoking is linked to multi-organ cancers, not just lung cancer,” he warned.
Dr Mushtaq expressed concern over the rising use of e-cigarettes, which he termed more hazardous due to their unregulated nature and the unlabeled sale of imported cigarettes that do not carry any warning signs or health hazard symbols.
Meanwhile, doctors said combating the tobacco epidemic requires a multi-pronged approach. In addition to strict regulations, there must be strong awareness campaigns at the school and community levels, active involvement of parents and teachers in discouraging smoking habits and stricter enforcement against illegal and unregulated tobacco sales, they stressed.
Health experts said that revenue generation should not come at the cost of public health. They urged policymakers to prioritise the well-being of citizens over profits.
Notably, around 32 per cent of men and approximately 1 per cent of women in Jammu and Kashmir use any form of tobacco. Cigarettes are the primary tobacco product used in the region. The survey reveals that nearly one-third (32%) of men aged 15-49 use some form of tobacco, compared to only 1 per cent of women in the same age group.
Tobacco products most commonly used by men include cigarettes (27%), bidis (4%), and hookah, cigars, or pipes (each 2%). The use of tobacco is slightly higher in rural areas, with 35% of men and 1.4% of women using tobacco, compared to 24% of men and 0.7% of women in urban areas. Over one-third (35%) of male cigarette smokers reported consuming between 5 to 9 cigarettes in the past 24 hours.
The data further indicates that around 0.2% of women in urban areas and 0.5% in rural areas use cigarettes. Among men, 21.1% in urban areas and 28.7% in rural areas are cigarette users. Bidi smoking is reported by 0.1% of women and 4% of men in Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, 0.1% of women and 2.2% of men smoke cigars or pipes, while hookah use is reported by 0.7% of women and 2.4% of men.
Regarding consumption patterns, approximately 27% of cigarette smokers consume five or fewer cigarettes per day, 34.7% smoke between 5-9 cigarettes, 29.9% use 10-14 cigarettes in 24 hours, 6% smoke 15-24 cigarettes, and about 0.3% smoke 25 or more cigarettes daily—(KNO)