Nagaland reels under tobacco menace, 5-13 year old among users

About 28.3 per cent of children in the age group of 5-13 years are smokeless tobacco users while 14.8 per cent of them are into smoking in Nagaland, the second highest consumer of tobacco products in the country.
The figures were provided by Joint Director State Health and Family Welfare and State Nodal Officer, National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) Dr H Hotokhu Chishi at the first meeting of the Kohima District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) here yesterday.
Nagaland is the second highest consumer of tobacco products in the country with 57 per cent of its population either into smoking or being smokeless tobacco users, he said.

Mizoram tops the list with 67 per cent, the officer said.
Chishi said that Nagaland has about 68 per cent male tobacco users and 28 per cent female tobacco users.
37 per cent of school students are into smoking habit while 41 per cent of them are smokeless tobacco users.

Nagaland has recorded 115 tobacco related oral cancer cases since 2007-2008, he said.
"Smoking tobacco causes cancer of the lung, larynx, kidney, bladder, stomach, colon, oral cavity and oesophagus as well as leukaemia, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischaemic heart disease, stroke, miscarriage, pre-mature birth, birth defects and infertility," he said.

Chishi sought cooperation of the district administration, Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Kohima Municipal Council and all stake holders in spreading awareness about the ill effects of tobacco consumption.
Shops selling tobacco products should restrict their sale to children below 21 years while educational institutions should put up boards curbing the sale of tobacco within their jurisdiction, he said.