Govt scheme helps 40 per cent users to kick the butt

NEW DELHI: In one of the most ambitious government projects, National Tobacco QuitLine Services (NTQLS), aimed at helping smokers and tobacco users to quit its use, 40 per cent of people quit smoking and consuming tobacco after signing up for the toll-free service.

Details released on Thursday stated that apart from health concerns, economic burden was also seen as a major factor behind quitting tobacco. Users spend as much asRs 1,000 toRs 5,000 per month on tobacco.

Union health minister J.P. Nadda had launched the programme on May 30, 2016. The Union health ministry funds the project, while it is run under DU’s Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (VPCI) that aims at helping people quit tobacco.

The data, collected from May 30, 2016 to May 31 last year, stated a majority of the registered callers were adults aged between 25 and 64 years. This shows that they were aware of ill effects of tobacco, but still indulge in the habit.

“As per available data, a maximum number of callers, 73.4 per cent, who had no family history of tobacco use, used tobacco under peer pressure, status symbol, work pressure, anxiety etc,” said Prof R. Kumar, HoD, national centre of respiratory allergy, asthma and immunology, VPCI.