Use of smokeless tobacco costing India $389m a yr (Source: Times of india)

A study of healthcare costs by Tobacco in India estimated that in 2004, the direct medical costs of treating smokeless tobacco-related diseases in the country amounted to $285 million.

About 250 million adults consume smokeless tobacco in the 11 countries of the WHO's south-east Asia region, which constitutes 90% of global smokeless tobacco users. India lays claim to 32% men and 18.4% women, who consume smokeless tobacco costing the country $389 million.

A study of healthcare costs by Tobacco in India estimated that in 2004, the direct medical costs of treating smokeless tobacco-related diseases in the country amounted to $285 million. The indirect morbidity costs of smokeless tobacco use which includes the cost of caregivers and value of work loss due to illness amounted to $104 million taking the total cost of diseases caused by smokeless tobacco use was $89 million (about Rs 17.9 billion) in 2004.

This figure is in addition to the 250 million smokers in the region. Given the high number of users and the serious health consequences of tobacco use, countries on Wednesday have set a target for a 30% reduction in prevalence of current tobacco use in persons above 15 years.

Speaking at the International Conference on Public Health Priorities in the 21st Century: The Endgame for Tobacco, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said use of tobacco had led to 100 million deaths in the 20th century. The concern was echoed by health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who said that in sheer numbers, India had the highest number of smokeless tobacco users in the world and tobacco causes over 1 million deaths in India annually. Also, India has the highest number of oral cancer cases in the world and 90% of these cases are attributable to smokeless tobacco use.

Smokeless tobacco is associated with a two-four times increase in the risk for cardiovascular diseases. Asian studies indicate that the mortality risk for women who consume smokeless tobacco is higher than that for men. Use of smokeless tobacco in pregnancy is linked to stillbirths and a two-three times higher risk of low birth weight babies. Other health effects of smokeless tobacco use include caries of tooth, receding of gums, high blood pressure, a debilitating condition known as oral sub-mucous fibrosis (OSF), and cancers of the mouth and food pipe.

"The use of smokeless tobacco is rampant in South-East Asia. Lack of public awareness and incomplete knowledge about the harmful effects of smokeless tobacco are powerful obstacles in creating effective tobacco control policies," said Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO's regional director for south-east Asia.

While many people are aware that tobacco is dangerous, the majority of users are not aware about the lethal connection between chewing tobacco and fatal diseases like cancers or that product like betel quid or mishri or gutka are dangerous.
Source :Times of india