Approximately 60 lakh Maharashtrians run the risk of cancer due to tobacco usage, the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (Gats) has revealed. Further, the survey highlights that almost 31.4 per cent of the state’s adult population — 42.5 per cent men and 18.9 per cent women — consumes tobacco in some form or the other. The Gats findings were released at the Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) on Friday.
Amongst other findings, the Gats also stated the average age of initiation and the time of consumption of the first smoke,
gutka or any form of tobacco. “The average age of initiation is 17.9 years in males and 21 years in females. Also, 64.6 per cent of the tobacco users consume tobacco in the first half-an-hour of waking up,” the Gats highlights.
Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, associate professor, head, and neck department said, “As per the survey, nearly two crore Maharashtrians above 15 years of age consume smokeless tobacco. As per WHO statistics, every second tobacco user dies prematurely because of tobacco consumption. Therefore, it is estimated that millions of Maharashtrians will die prematurely because of consuming smokeless tobacco.”
When contacted, minister of state FDA , Satej Patil said, “The process of bringing out the order to ban gutka in the state is in process. The file has moved from my end. It will now go to Manohar Naik, state FDA minister, then to the deputy CM and finally the CM.”
Speaking on the report, CM Prithviraj Chavan, in a letter, said, “The Maharashtra government is well aware of the situation and has initiated strong steps to curb the menace of smoking.”