Globally, tobacco kills more than seven million people every year, and over a million of those deaths occur in India. According to recent data, the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir ranks sixth in the country in terms of tobacco consumption, with over one-fifth of its population currently using tobacco in some form. This paints a troubling picture, especially given the known health consequences and the strain it places on families and the healthcare system. The figures from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey reveal that smoking is far more prevalent than smokeless forms of tobacco in Jammu and Kashmir. Among men, over a third are smokers, and a small yet worrying percentage of women also use tobacco. While the use of smokeless tobacco is lower than the national average, the combined usage rate among adults still hovers close to one in four. These numbers are not just statistics—they reflect habits that lead to chronic illness, reduced quality of life, and premature death. Over the past five years, authorities in the region have attempted to slow this growing trend. Although laws exist on paper to discourage tobacco consumption, their implementation on the ground remains uneven and often inadequate. There are provisions for penalising individuals found smoking in public spaces, and some fines have indeed been imposed. However, these enforcement actions appear sporadic, lacking the consistency needed to bring about real behavioural change. In many areas, public smoking continues without consequence, suggesting that the law is more frequently ignored than followed. Similarly, while the government has officially banned the sale of loose cigarettes and other single-unit tobacco products to reduce casual access, enforcement of this rule is lax. Awareness campaigns have been initiated in various towns and villages, aiming to inform the public about the health dangers associated with tobacco use. Yet, these efforts alone cannot compete with the easy availability of tobacco products and the deeply ingrained social habits that support their use. Without stronger and more consistent law enforcement, the message promoted by these campaigns often fails to translate into action. Lung cancer has become particularly alarming in Kashmir, with hospitals witnessing a surge in patients, most of whom are male smokers. This is not just a medical crisis but also a social one, as families struggle to deal with the emotional and financial burden that long-term illness brings. The damage caused by tobacco extends beyond the individual—it affects children, who grow up around smokers, and entire communities that carry the cost of increased disease and lost productivity. The risk is even higher in areas where healthcare services are stretched or delayed. Despite these warnings, many people still underestimate the severity of the risks, and the lack of strict enforcement allows harmful habits to go unchecked. It is clear that while policies exist, their partial and inconsistent application severely limits their effectiveness. More needs to be done to close the gap between policy and practice, and to ensure that public health measures are fully implemented and respected in J&K.
Health Hazard
