PESHAWAR: Health experts on Friday warned the people of adverse effects of the use of tobacco and other drugs and called for the coordinated efforts to increase public awareness of it.

Pakistan Chest Society President Dr Arshad Javed told a news conference organised at the Peshawar Press Club in connection with the World No Tobacco Day that the media, civil society, government and religious scholars should join hands for the eradication of drugs from society.

He said the incidence of smoking was on the rise and thus, increasing the vulnerability of smokers to stroke, heart attack, asthma and chronic cough.

Experts seek coordinated efforts to increase public awareness of menace

The expert said 90 per cent of lung cancers were caused by smoking, while the smoking in the surroundings adversely affected the health of non-smokers, too. He said it was the duty of non-smokers to encourage the people around to quit smoking permanently.

Dr Arshad said naswar (chewable tobacco) could easily damage gums and mouth beyond repair.

“Grey and white sores start appearing on the tongue and inner cheek. Nearly 90 per cent of all oral cancers start from these sores. The longer you keep tobacco in mouth, the greater your chances of getting oral cancer,” he added.

The expert said tobacco cost national economies dearly through increased healthcare expenses and decreased productivity and that it worsened health inequalities and exacerbates poverty, as the poorest people spent less on essentials such as food, education and healthcare.

On the occasion, another expert, Dr Taj Mohammad, said the amount of nicotine absorbed from smokeless tobacco was three to four times the amount delivered by a cigarette.

He also talked about the negative impacts of gutka mixed with tobacco and paan masala saying chhalia could cause choking in small children.

Dr Taj said chewable tobacco could lead to the tightening of the jaw, which eventually progressed to oral cancer.

Expert Dr Saadia Ashraf said the World No Tobacco Day was observed to tell people that tobacco was dangerous to human life and could cause serious diseases, especially to youths.

She asked the people to take the issue seriously and play role effectively for the eradication of drugs from society.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2017