DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i09.001

Pages: 3473-3474

Oral cancer is one of the major problems in the Indian subcontinent where it consistently ranks among the top three types of cancer in the country. Use of tobacco and excessive consumption of alcohol have been estimated to account for around 90% of carcinomas in the oral cavity; the risk of oral cancer increases when tobacco is consumed in combination with alcohol or areca nut. Smokeless tobacco (ST) is defined as use of tobacco or a tobacco product that is being used by means other than smoking. Numerous adverse health outcomes such as oral leukoplakia, submucous fibrosis and periodontitis; gastrointestinal abnormalities; oropharyngeal, pancreatic and esophageal cancers; as well as carcinoma of stomach have also been linked to the use of ST. Policy developments to reduce the use of ST includes COTPA 2003, other laws, and certain specific court orders. In order to reduce the adverse impact of tobacco use related morbidity as well as mortality, we require a combination of strategies which should be aimed at avoiding initiation of use of tobacco by current non-users and also cessation of use of tobacco among the current users of tobacco. Conclusion: In India, smokeless tobacco is the dominant form of tobacco used, although little comprehensive documentation is available on this subject. The key recommendation in this regard is to enforce country-wide ban on the production, supply as well as distribution of all the packaged ST products. Targeted interventions, public awareness campaigns and cessation programmes towards ST use among the youth, women, and rural populations could reach the users of ST more effectively.