Photo Courtesy: nagalandpost
Kohima: Wokha, Zunheboto, and Tuensang districts now hold the highest tobacco use rates in Nagaland. Official data shows these three areas hit prevalence rates between 52.7% and 59.8%. The State Nodal Officer for the National Tobacco Control Programme confirmed these findings. These numbers come from the ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research.
Statewide consumption remains well above the national average. Statistics show 43.3% of adults in the state use tobacco. This puts Nagaland eighth across India. Pan masala and betel quid mixed with tobacco are the top choices for users. Men use smokeless products at a rate of 46%, while 31.5% of women report the same.
Children are in the crosshairs. Nagaland ranks second in India for youth tobacco use, according to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey. The survey shows 43% of school children between 13 and 15 years old use these products. Health officials expressed concern that adolescents are particularly vulnerable to nicotine addiction due to their developing brains, increasing the risk of long-term dependency.
Recent data shows an upward trend among adults. The National Family Health Survey 2023-24 recorded tobacco use at 51.2% for men and 17.4% for women. This is a jump from the previous survey period. Experts link the habit to cancer, heart disease, and premature death. The government is now pushing school-based awareness and stricter enforcement of tobacco laws to try and stop the spread.
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