Mizoram records highest tobacco consumption: report

Aizwal, May 31 (UNI) The Indian Society on Tobacco and Health (ISTH), Mizoram Chapter, today expressed concern over the number of tobacco users of the state, which tops due list of tobacco consumption.

A report released by the National Health Family Survey (NHFS-2) on the occasion of 'World Anti Tobacco Day' revealed that Mizoram tops in male tongue cancer cases in the world, along with lung and stomach cancer, male hypopharynx cancer and male oesophagus cancer.

The survey also shows that Mizoram tops the list of tobacco consumption.

''While 60 per cent of the state's male and female population use tobacco in the form of chewing, 59.4 per cent male and 22.1 per cent female smoke cigarettes,'' the report said.

According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey in 2001, 54 per cent of the high school students in Mizoram uses one or more forms of tobacco. While 23 per cent smoke cigarettes, 32 per cent chew tobacco, the survey said.

The ISTH also staged a 'No Tobacco' rally here during the day where the Mizoram Chapter president urged the people to stay away from tobacco.

UNI