Introduction: Yogi Adityanath, the newly appointed Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, directed government officials in UP to stop chewing pan, pan masala, and gutka during duty hours. The use of tobacco and pan products has been banned in hospitals, schools and colleges too. In Imphal, insurgent groups are actively involve in banning the sale and use of tobacco. Those who were caught selling tobacco products like pan, khaini, raja, talab, etc., were heavily punished sometime even shot. Government of India prohibits and restricts advertisement in mass media (tv or in movies) about tobacco. It also imposes heavy tax on the production and sale of tobacco. The State also prohibits smoking in public places with heavy fine or imprisonment. It requires 75% of tobacco packet being devoted to create awareness about the danger of using tobacco. However, the Church had kept silent for all these years on this issue.
Tobacco: Most people know tobacco is really bad for them. It is indeed a strange habit of human beings that inhales smoke deliberately into one’s system, and continuing the process again and again to derive satisfaction. It is the cause for many preventable diseases in the world. Tobacco is devastating to human body and second-hand smoke is equally damaging to those around it. According to a research, tobacco kills more than AIDS, road accidents, murder, legal drugs, illegal drugs and suicide combined. Cases of oral cancer in North East India have been increasing at a fast rate during the past few years. Disturbingly, in Nagaland, many students are addicted to smokeless tobacco from their early childhood. A small survey conducted by the BD Third Year students of Baptist Theological College, Pfutsero, among the students in Pfutsero educational institutions, showed that many young girls and boys are addicted to tobacco substances. The Church, as moral guardian of society, must wake up from its slumber and educate its members about the danger of using tobacco.
Nicotine: Nicotine is a very strong addiction substance. Once addicted it becomes very difficult to quit tobacco dependence. When one uses tobacco products, nicotine is quickly absorbed into bloodstream. Within 10 seconds the nicotine reaches the brain. It causes the brain to release adrenaline, creating a buzz of pleasures and energy. The buzz fades quickly though, and leaves the user feeling tired, a little down, and wanting the buzz again. This feeling is what makes one light up the next cigarette. Since our body is able to build up a high tolerance to nicotine, we will need to smoke more and more cigarettes in order to get the nicotine’s pleasurable effects and prevent withdrawal symptoms. This ups and downs cycle repeats over and over, leading to addiction. Children and teens are especially sensitive to nicotine, making it easier for them to become addicted. Cigarette makers know that nicotine addiction helps sell their products. Cigarettes today deliver more nicotine more quickly than ever before. Tobacco companies also use additives and chemicals to make them more addictive.
Effects of smoking on health: The effects of smoking are serious. It can harm nearly every organ of the body. Smoking weakens body’s immune system that protects a person from infection and diseases. It leads to respiratory infections, doubles the risks of developing rheumatoid arthritis, 30% to 40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, decreases bone density leading to fracture, harms blood cells and damages the function of heart, affects lungs and causes breathing problem, affects eyesight/vision. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals. About 70 of them are known to cause cancer. It negatively impacts male and female fertility and is harmful to pregnant women and their unborn babies.
Secondhand smoke: Secondhand smoke is the combination of smoke from the burning end of the cigarette and the smoke exhaled by smokers. When we are around a person who is smoking, we inhale the dangerous chemicals as the smoker.
Smokeless tobacco: Smokeless tobacco is tobacco that is not burned. It includes chewing tobacco, dip, snuff, and betel quid. At least 28 chemicals in these products have been found to cause cancer. Smokeless tobacco may cause tooth decay in the exposed tooth roots. It can also cause gums to pull away from teeth. In India, tobacco chewing accounts for 30% of the total consumption, beedi smoking (54%) and cigarette smoking (16%). Paan, paan masala, gutka, khaini, gul, bajjar, etc. are other forms of smokeless tobacco.
Some facts and figures about tobacco effects: There are nearly 1.3 billion smokers in the world. One out of two smokers died of smoking related diseases. India has more than 300 million smokers. India has the highest rate of oral cancer in the world with 90% of the patients being tobacco chewers. In 2010, 930,000 adults died due to tobacco in India. Over 60% of those suffering from heart disease below the age of 40 years are smokers. Approximately half of all cancers in men in India are tobacco related. It is said that the profit made by the tobacco companies is equivalent to the medical expenses spent by smokers.
Reflection: Use of tobacco has adverse effect on individual’s health. It incurs huge family’s expenditure on buying and later on for medical treatment. It disturbs other’s wellbeing especially through second hand smoke. It leads to moral and spiritual bankruptcy. It ruins a child’s future. Many chronic smokers find it easier to abstain from food than controlling tobacco related substances during fasting programme. Dirtying the wall by chewing tobacco and spitting on it demonstrate how uncivilised we are. Littering of plastic covers of tobacco pouches destroys the beauty of environment. Tobacco is a non-sense in civilised world.
Can the Church remain a silent spectator when a Hindu Priest (Yogi Adityanath), an underground group (Meiteis) and Government (GOI) are taking strong action against the use of tobacco? Food and drinks are meant for life and not for destruction. Therefore, using tobacco is not a question of whether it is ‘sin’ or ‘not’ (as many Christians often ask), but the important question is whether it is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ for health. Is tobacco really necessary for life and growth of our body? It is high time for us to save ourselves and the coming generation from the destruction of intoxicants. Let us take this time to think together and help each other. For healthy living and harmonious society, let us say ‘NO’ to tobacco. Let us not wait God to perform miracle again. Let us not wait others to bring change but let us be the agents of change and make miracle happen in our land by transforming our society.
Z. K. Pahrü Pou
BTC, Pfutsero
