Tobacco intake dips among adults in 5 years

Bhubaneswar: Tobacco consumption among adults in Odisha has declined marginally over the past five years, but alcohol use, particularly among men, remains significantly higher than the national average, according to the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6, 2023-24). At the national level, tobacco use has declined, while alcohol consumption among men shows only marginal changes from 18.7% in NFHS-5 to 18.9% in NFHS-6.The survey shows that 22.8% of women in Odisha use tobacco, far higher than the national average of 8.4%, although the state saw a fall from 26.1% in NFHS-5 (2019-21). Among men, 48.3% in Odisha consume tobacco, again well above the all-India figure of 36.3%, though lower than 51.7% recorded earlier. The gender gap remains stark nationwide, but Odisha stands out for its overall higher usage across both sexes.Alcohol consumption trends give a mixed picture. Women drinkers in Odisha account for 3.1%, slightly down from 4.3%, but still nearly three times the national average of 1.1%. Among men, 26.8% in Odisha consume alcohol, down from 28.7%, but markedly higher than the India average of 18.9%.Experts pointed out that while the decline in tobacco use indicates some impact of public health interventions, the persistently high prevalence signals deeper socio-cultural acceptance and enforcement challenges.Rural-urban variations further underline the issue. In Odisha, rural tobacco consumption among men (50.6%) and women (24.4%) remains significantly higher than their urban counterparts — suggesting that awareness campaigns may not be reaching hinterland populations effectively.Similarly, alcohol consumption is more prevalent in rural areas, with 28% of men reporting alcohol use compared to 21.2% in urban regions, highlighting the need for targeted behavioural interventions.Experts said Gen Z or the young generation are not showing much interest in alcohol and tobacco products. They warned that these patterns could continue to fuel non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer, particularly in high-burden states like Odisha.KK Rout, public health specialist, said smoking tobacco can cause COPD, cardiovascular issues, TB and other lung-related problems. “Chewing tobacco can develop oral health problems in the long run. Diseases like cancer are affecting the people consuming tobacco. Alcohol is not only creating health issues but also harming mental health and social relations. A driver under the influence of alcohol may cause an accident. That’s why tobacco use and alcohol consumption should be reduced further,” he added.Mohammad Imran Ali, an anti-tobacco campaigner, said the data clearly shows improvement, but the pace is slow. “Odisha continues to remain above the national average in both tobacco and alcohol consumption. Stronger policy enforcement and community-level awareness are crucial to reduce tobacco and alcohol consumption,” he added.