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EDITORIAL |
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| Year : 2006 | Volume
: 24
| Issue : 2 | Page : 62 |
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A tasty puff of death......
SG Damle
Nair Hospital Dental College, Dr. A. L. Nair Road, Mumbai Central, Mumbai - 400 008, India
Correspondence Address:
S G Damle
Nair Hospital Dental College, Dr. A. L. Nair Road, Mumbai Central, Mumbai - 400 008
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0970-4388.26017
How to cite this article:
Damle S G. A tasty puff of death...... J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 2006;24:62 |
We have observed 31st May as 'No Tobacco' day. It is disheartening to know that there is an estimate of 1.3 billion smokers in the World. The total global prevalence of smoking is 29%. Out of the 1.3 billion smokers, more than 900 million live in developing countries. Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. It is currently responsible for the death of one in every ten adults worldwide. Every 6.5 seconds one tobacco user dies from a tobacco related disease somewhere in the world. The death toll from tobacco consumption is now 4.9 millions per year. If the present consumption pattern continues, the number of deaths will increase to 10 million by the year 2020.
Vigorous anti-tobacco campaigns and a ban to promote tobacco products on media has brought some good results, but it is disappointing to know that the younger generation and smaller children are getting attracted to smoking. School children are also addicted to Pan Masalas and Gutkas, hence the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in children is increasing.
Some of the major tobacco companies in the western countries have devised a new way to target children, by selling cigarettes and tobacco products in assorted candy flavours like chocolate, strawberry and mint. In India too, brands of mango flavoured bidis are available. The companies are claiming that these bidis are less toxic as they produce less tar. But in reality bidis are more toxic than cigarettes.
These flavoured cigarettes and bidis are a cynical attempt by the tobacco companies to recruit "Replacement Smokers". Recent survey confirms that these products are much more appealing to youth. Advertising for candy, mango cigarettes and bidis target youth by using attractive women, hip-hop and other imageries to portray smoking as fashionable and trendy.
Its time to realize the danger and hazards of tobacco and save our younger generation from cigarette and bidis and refrain them from taking a Tasty puff of death....
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