Peer pressure, status symbol, work pressure, stress, family conflicts, relationship issues, anxiety and social conformity are some of the reasons why majority of adults and youth start using tobacco.
This was found as part of data gathered for one year from May 30, 2016, and released here on Thursday through the government’s project ‘National Tobacco Quitline Services (NTQLS)’.
NTQLS is a confidential telephone counselling, information and referral service for anyone seeking help to quit use of tobacco. It can be accessed through toll-free number — 1800-11-2356 — six days a week, from Tuesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It follows the WHO’s protocol of Quitline services.
The tobacco cessation programme was launched by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J. P. Nadda in 2016. The one-year data analysis found that maximum number of callers — 73.4% — had no family history of tobacco use.
Also 46.45% registered callers seeking counselling to help to quit tobacco use were from Uttar Pradesh. The second highest were from Delhi. Nearly 40% of people who signed up for the toll-free service successfully quit smoking and tobacco use, shows the analysis.
The project, supported by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, runs under the aegis of Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi.
Educated adults
Majority of registered callers were educated adults belonging to the age group of 25-64 years, according to the data shared. This shows that they were well aware of the harmful effects of tobacco use.
Prof. Raj Kumar of Vallabhbhai Patel Institute, who heads the programme, said, “Tobacco Quitline Services are telephone-based and free of cost, with primary objective to provide counselling for tobacco cessation. These services include support through educational material, in the form of SMS, e-mail and websites.’’
He added, “The results of programme are motivating.... The toll-free service is a good way to reach out top people who are reluctant seek help for their addiction due to fear of being judged. Hopefully, more people will reach out to us.”
