J&K fights normalisation, lax law enforcement against smoking epidemic

Srinagar, May 31: J&K has over the years earned the notorious name as one of Indiaís smoking capitals ñ with a prevalence of nearly 40 percent among adult males.

The dubious distinction costs its residents hundreds of crores of rupees annually and exposes glaring weaknesses in anti-tobacco initiatives.

A new generation is falling into addiction ñ its future health outcomes already compromised, even though stringent laws exist.

In J&K, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) prevalence is four times more common than the national average, affecting 16-18 percent of people compared to 5-7 percent across India, according to India: Health of the Nationís States report.

Lung cancer, often linked to smoking, accounts for 27 percent of J&Kís cancer cases.

These diseases rob thousands of years of healthy life of the population here ñ known as disability-adjusted life years DALYs in scientific terms.

DALYs are years people lose to early death or disability from coughing breathless days and hospital stays.

Smoking drains the pockets from an early age of a person and makes sure his later years are filled with misery and medical bills for the treatment of lung diseases and cancers.

The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA, 2003) and the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) have failed to bring about any visible changes in the prevalence of smoking in J&K.

As per the National Family Health Survey - 5 (NFHS-5) 38.3 percent of men and 3.6 percent of women in J&K consume tobacco.

In other words, nearly 4 of every 10 adult males in J&K smoke.

The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), the last one carried out eight years ago, put J&Kís smoking prevalence at 20.8 percent among adults, nearly double the national average of 10.7 percent, ranking it sixth among Indian states.

While it is difficult to say what drives the high smoking rates in J&K, many believe cultural normalisation makes tobacco use socially acceptable.

Earlier hookahs and now cigarettes are embedded in the daily lives of many people.

Smoking (nicotine), although highly addictive, is not even considered a drug of abuse.

Its sales are taxed, not stalled.

Even with minors smoking in public places, no one bats an eye.

Despite high taxes (53 percent on legal cigarettes, including 28 percent GST, excise duties, and National Calamity Contingent Duty) cigarettes remain affordable due to cheap variants and loose sales.

According to a report, in 2018, J&K smokers spent an average of Rs 2600 monthly on cigarettes, far above the national average of Rs 1192.45, reflecting heavy consumption among daily users.

While COTPA aims to curb tobacco use through strict regulations: banning smoking in public places, prohibiting sales to minors and near schools, mandating 85 percent pictorial warnings and banning advertisements.

Yet, violations are rampant in J&K, rendering these laws toothless.

Almost all shops sell cigarettes loose, sell to minors and there are hundreds of shops nearby schools that sell candies and cigarettes with the same flair to the same customers.