An Awareness programme on “Ill effects of Tobacco” was given by Dr. Bongau Phom, District Nodal Officer, National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) Longleng at St. Joseph School Longleng on Wednesday, DIPR informed. The programme was organised by dental unit of District Hospital Longleng as part of Oral Cancer Screening Month 2023.

At the programme, Dr. Bongau Phom explained that tobacco contains nicotine which is one of the most addictive substances and thereby when one initiates consuming tobacco it becomes a lifelong addiction. He therefore said that awareness campaigns must be carried out so that the youths are made aware of the danger posed by it from a tender age.

The most susceptible time for initiating and experimenting with tobacco use is at 10 years, he said. Moreover, the teens who use Tobacco today are three times more likely than non-users to use alcohol, eight times more likely to use marijuana, and 22 times more likely to use cocaine, Phom added.

He also stressed that tobacco is sold rampantly in Longleng which needs strict laws and regulations. Ninety percent of Oral cancer is caused by Tobacco. Precancerous lesions are seen in many patients and they can turn into full-blown cancer in 10 years, he highlighted.

Along with the awareness campaign, the programme continued with the screening of Oral cancer organized by District Hospital Longleng to higher classes of St. Joseph School Longleng.

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