World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

PREVALENCE OF SMOKELESS TOBACCO USE AND ITS CHALLENGES IN INDIA

Amanjot Singh, Parag Bhardwaj, Amit Raj Singh, Suneela Garg and Amod Borle, Prashansa Tiwari

ABSTRACT

Tobacco products are divided into two types based on their consumption. Tobacco which is consumed by smoke after burning them is commonly known as smoking tobacco such as cigarette, bidi, hukka etc. Tobacco products which are consumed without burning them are called smokeless tobacco (SLT).[1] SLT could be consumed through oral or nasal route.[2] History revieled that smokeless tobacco had originated in pre historic times, practise of smokeless tobacco consumption started from eastwards and extended to South Pacific islands.[3] Pindborg et al. (1992) in his study mentioned the oral consumption practises of smokeless tobacco in Africa, North America, South East Asia, Europe and Middle East. Practise of tobacco consumption involves placing of tobacco piece or tobacco products in the mouth followed by chewing or sucking it for certain period of time. There are various types of smokeless tobacco available globally such as chewing tobacco (loose leaf, plug, or twist and may come in flavors), snuff tobacco (moist, dry, or in packets), dissolvable tobacco (lozenges, sticks, strips, orbs).[3,4] The People use tobacco for many different reasons—like stress relief, pleasure, or in social situations the reasons for the use of smokeless tobacco fall into two main themes as socio-cultural structure, and beliefs. Each included subtopics such as culture and living conditions, family and peer relationships. Beliefs related to psychological and beliefs related to material influences", "beliefs" the harm perceptions role.[5] The use of smokeless tobacco has adverse health effects, causing more than 7 million deaths annually globally. India has a large number of tobacco users, characterized by frequent smokers and those using smokeless tobacco, with synergistic effects accounting for a significant number.[6]

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