Adolescents who are addicted to tobacco consumption are more receptive to counselling and quitting the addiction than adults, revealed a study. It also stated that the rate at which people quit tobacco in the city is higher than the global average.
This information was revealed in a two-year long tobacco-cessation treatment service called ‘LifeFirst’ that was initiated in 2013. The service was initiated by Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation, an NGO that works in the field of health and education in Mumbai.
According to the results of the study, out of the total school students registered with the NGO in their programme, 82 per cent of them quit consumption of tobacco of any form. While the reception rate of adults from various workplaces is 62 per cent and private hospitals is only 76 per cent.
“We have noticed that adolescents between 13-18 years of age, are more receptive to counselling and showed more interest in quitting tobacco than their adult counterparts. Due to their age, we can mould their thinking unlike adults, who are more resistant to change,” said Leni Choudhari, programme head of the NGO.
The programme was executed in six municipal corporation and government-aided schools where 718 students registered for the long tobacco-cessation sessions.
“Through these sessions, we develop ‘refusal skills’ among them that help them to avoid their peer pressure,” said Gauri Mandal, who coordinates the programme in schools.
Under the programme, 3,733 tobacco addicts from various socio-economic classes and professions have been counselled. Out of these, 1,090 addicts are still undergoing the session. But as per the outcome of the survey, almost 40 per cent of them have quit consumption of tobacco completely. This is higher than the global average, which stands at 17 per cent.
“It is a good news that people in Mumbai are quitting tobacco faster than the global standard,” said Ms Choudhari.
However, due to lack of proper tobacco-cessation programmes in India, addicts despite wanting to quit the habit, cannot. “Nearly two out of every five tobacco users have attempted to quit but they are unable to because there is no proper tobacco-cessation programme. We can curb the tobacco consumption through-awareness, prevention and cessation,” Ms Choudhari added.
Taking the programme further, the NGO is providing training to staff from various hospitals including Godrej Hospital, Bridge Candy, Persi General Hospital.
