PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Dehradun, Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma, emphasised that youth should not be entrapped by attractive and fragrant tobacco products. He said this during an awareness workshop held in the district jail on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day on Saturday.
The workshop, centered on the theme ‘Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products’, aimed to inform jail inmates about the harmful effects of smoking and tobacco. In addition to the discussions, inmates participated in a poster competition focused on tobacco prohibition and those who had quit tobacco shared their personal experiences. Sharma said that tobacco manufacturers utilise various appealing flavours to market their products in an enticing manner. This can attract individuals who do not usually use tobacco, leading them to start consuming it. Consequently, many users gradually develop an addiction. He stressed on the need for recognising these industry strategies and communicating the truth about them to others.
The CMO also commended the jail administration for its role in supporting inmates to overcome tobacco addiction. He said that the cooperation of the jail administration has helped many prisoners quit smoking.
Further, the additional CMO of Dehradun Dr Nidhi Rawat said that over the past two years, ongoing motivational efforts, including focus group discussions, have encouraged prisoners to give up smoking and tobacco. These initiatives have contributed to a significant number of inmates quitting these habits.
District advisor Archana Uniyal provided information on the COTPA Act and its various provisions, while psychiatrist Anuradha detailed the harmful effects of tobacco products on the body. Jail officials informed that tobacco use has been banned on jail premises through joint efforts by the Health department and jail administration. Further, bringing tobacco into the jail by relatives visiting inmates is also prohibited. The district tobacco control cell conducts periodic counselling sessions within the jail to support these initiatives. As a result, many prisoners have successfully quit smoking and tobacco use, officials said.
