The number of tobacco-related scenes in popular shows has increased by 110% among young people between the ages of 15 and 24. These scenes frequently depict smoking as attractive.
The president of the Cancer Society, Dr. Ahmed Ijaz Masood, stated that smoking among youth is still common and is even rising in some nations.
Ahead of May 31, which is World Tobacco Day, he noted in a statement that 38 million boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 15 use or use tobacco products worldwide and that “nicotine is especially harmful to developing brains.”
He clarified that tobacco products—which include branded advertising materials—are more harmful than cigarettes, especially hookah and e-cigarettes, which are highly popular among younger people.
These tobacco business strategies entice young people to develop a lifelong addiction. “Your cancer will progress if you don’t stop smoking,” Dr. Ahmed cautioned.
He declared that smoking—which includes using cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookahs, beedis, betel leaves, areca nuts, gutka, and snuff—is a major social ill in our country. He went on to say that these are the worst drugs that can make someone closer to death.
Dr. Masood stated that Tobacco Day is observed to raise awareness of the tobacco pandemic and the deaths and illnesses it causes around the world. He added that there is an urgent need to raise awareness and educate people about their detrimental consequences.
He pointed out that smoking causes more than 8 million deaths globally each year.
