One out of every four persons in J&K consumes tobacco

One out of every four persons in Jammu and Kashmir consumes tobacco while every second person in the state is a passive smoker, a survey has revealed.

"More than two in every five adult males and one in every five adult females in Jammu and Kashmir use tobacco," Professor S Parasuraman of International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS) said after releasing the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) here yesterday.

The survey was conducted by the Mumbai-based IIPS, a deemed university, in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The prevalence of smoking in the state at 27 per cent was much higher than the regional average of 19 per cent but lower than the national average of 35 per cent, Parasuraman said.

She said Jammu and Kashmir had the highest number of passive smokers, at 58 per cent, in northern region.

Addressing the workshop, state's Minister for Health Sham Lal Sharma called for a strong movement against the use of tobacco and its allied products.

Expressing concern over the growing rate of smokers and drug addiction in the state, Sharma stressed the need for launching a massive awareness campaign at different levels against the use of tobacco products and other drugs.

He sought the help of civil society to tackle the menace and suggested introduction of regular curriculum on moral education in schools and colleges so that young students do not indulge in the evils of drug addiction.

He said the government has initiated several measures to deal with the issue.