According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 8 million people die from the usage of Tobacco products, the report went further to state that of the 8 million deaths, 7 million deaths result from direct smoking of Tobacco, while about 1.2 million occurred from non smoker that is second hand smoking (persive smokers) . Report have it that 80percent of people who smoke (tobacco users) are from low-middle income countries in which Nigeria belongs. The tobacco industry have continuously devised strategies to make up for these deaths and the major targets being the younger generation(Youth).This year " World No Tobacco Day" encourages us to speak out and expose the Tobacco industries and it's strategies in manipulating Youths into being tobacco users. Due to the health danger's that are involved with the use of Tobacco products, the 31st of May is set aside to warn people as well as educate them on the risk of tobacco products.
Tobacco is a herb belonging to a family of plants known as the Solanacea. It is of the Genus Nicotiana and specie tabacum. It is botanically known as Nicotiana tabacum Linn.
Tobacco have different names in different regions of the world. In Nigeria it is called Taba in Yoruba, Hausa and Utaba in Igbo.
Tobacco readily absorbs heavy metals (toxic) from the soil, storing them on the leaves.Tobacco leaves when smoked is Known to contain over 4 thousands chemicals most of which are carcinogenic. Nicotine is one of the phytochemical that have been explored. Nicotine is known Pharmacologically for it's addictive property. When tobacco smoke is inhaled, the nicotine passes quickly to every organ of the body. The brain and nervous system are stimulated by small doses and depressed by larger ones. Nicotine increases the heart rate and the blood pressure, and may contribute directly to the excess of thrombosis and atheroma in smokers. Nevertheless, nicotine replacement therapy is used in helping people to stop smoking, because it spares them the many other harmful contents of tobacco smoke.
Tobacco products are marketed in different forms across the globe. Smoked Tobacco products are Cigarettes, cigar, pipe, etc while the smokeless Tobacco product are the chewing Tobacco, snuff, Moist snuff etc.
Tobacco use, be it short term or long term could put it's user at risk of Cardiovascular diseases such as Hypertension, heart attack, stroke and sometimes even Endocrine disorder such as Diabetes. Tobacco smoking can also lead to Cancers such as Lung cancer, cancer of the larynx, oesophagial cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer but to mention a few. We can not rule out the major adverse effects of tobacco use which is it's effect on the respiratory system where it results in Bronchitis, Emphysema, chronic Obstructive pulmonary diease etc. Tobacco use have also been associated with some rare disease conditions such as Parkinson's disease, ulcerative colitis, arteriosclerosis etc.
These facts are often hidden from the users by the company manufacturing Tobacco products. Rather every year they develop strategies to lure youth into the use of it's products. Some of these strategies include but are not limited to:
Use of flavors that are attractive to youth.
Sleek designs that are catchy for instance tobacco products that come in form of USB or even Pen.
Celebrity influencer a good example are Instagram influencer for tobacco products
Sale of single stick cigarette and other tobacco products near school which is a very good avenue for these school children to want to try these products out.
Indirect Marketing of tobacco products in movies. Most of these movies are seen by youth who in turn would want to try out what they have seen.
They even go as far as removing warning labels on these products.
Since 2002 there have been more former smokers than current smokers. Lots of youth have fallen prey to these strategies and lots of them are already battling with addiction.
The good news is that, once you are determined to quit, there are helpful treatment and resources for quitting. All you need to do is to consult a health professional who will guide you through the entire process.
Research have shown that there are more risk to tobacco use than any benefit.
Note: Quitting Tobacco improves your quality of life and reduces your chances of developing smoking related diseases. It is never to late to Quit! Now is the time.Help build a generation of youths who are Tobacco free. It begins now! It begins with Us. Speak Out! World No Tobacco day 2020.
Written by
Pharm. Dorothy Shatange
CEO Pharmatalk
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