Tobacco Control in India: A Dentist's Perspective.

ABSTRACT

The legalization of tobacco was an accidental event in the history. It would be a fallacy to assume that a product which kills half its consumers was given a legal status by way of logic. Portuguese introduced tobacco to India 400 years ago. Ever since, Indians have used tobacco in various forms. Addictive nature of nicotine leads to tobacco dependence. Tobacco causes over 20 categories of fatal and disabling diseases including oral cancer. In the future it is imperative to impose a ban on oral tobacco products, strengthen enforcement of existing regulations, establish coordinating mechanisms at the levels of central and state and mobilize people to combat the problem. Taxes on tobacco products should be raised and the generated revenue could be spent for the strengthening of the tobacco control program. This article reviews the tobacco use in India, tobacco dependence among people, laws to stub the tobacco inflow in the society and role of dental professionals in tobacco use cessation.