Smoking a threat to health ; Experts

Agra, Nov 16 (UNI) Experts have expressed deep concern over the increasing habit of smoking among the youth and said it poses a constant threat to their health.

On the second day of the seminar on tobacco prevention, organised by the World Health Organisation(WHO), Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council Sukhram Singh Yadav said, ''Smoking among college students has increased dramatically over the last decade, and we know that the tobacco industry is marketing its products aggressively to woo young adults.'' He expressed concern over the recent report which said around 50 lakh people die every year due to smoking and said there is an urgent need to ban smoking, especially on all campuses.

Depression is the biggest reason for an increase in smoking among the youth but they fail to comprehend it would further aggravate their problem instead of solving it, he said.

Mr Yadav said there is an urgent need to educate the youth regarding the ill-effects of smoking on health.

The other participants said, ''Although approval of tobacco control measures was lower among smokers, five of the seven proposed policies, including smoke-free dormitories and dining halls and bans on tobacco ads and sponsorship received overall support from smokers.

Opposition to the proposed policies was found primarily among the heaviest smokers.'' ''College students are the youngest group for the tobacco industry to target and as a consequence they need protection,'' said a participant.

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