Karnataka - Gulbarga   

Number of paan, tobacco addicts high in Gulbarga city

GULBARGA: Over 50 per cent of people surveyed in Gulbarga city are addicted to paan, arecanut and tobacco, according to a study conducted by a team of doctors at the S. Nijalingappa Institute of Dental Sciences and Research.

The consumption of paan, arecanut and tobacco is associated with the occurrence of oral cancer.

The team comprising Dr. Jagadishchandra, Dr. Jayashree Mudda and G.N. Chandu, conducted the study from October 2008 to March 2009 and surveyed 700 people.

Although the consumption of tobacco in any form increases the risk of oral cancer, the chances are higher if paan is consumed with tobacco.

Dr. Jagadishchandra, who is now working in Mumbai, told The Hindu here on Sunday that 40.5 per cent of those addicted to paan, arecanut and tobacco were aged between 21 and 30, 27.8 per cent were aged between 31 and 40, 17.3 per cent were aged between 41 and 50 and 1.5 per cent were aged above 71.

While 87.5 per cent of addicted persons were men, 12.5 per cent were women.

The study revealed that 75.4 per cent of the people surveyed either smoked or chewed tobacco and also chewed paan or arecanut.

Dr. Jagadishchandra said that 45.5 per cent chewed tobacco, 26 per cent smoked tobacco and 28.2 per cent were addicted to smoking and chewing tobacco.

A total of 12.5 per cent were addicted to chewing paan, 5.3 per cent chewed arecanut and 6.8 per cent chewed paan and arecanut.

While 87.8 per cent consumed arecanut, paan and tobacco daily, only 6.5 per cent consumed them occasionally.

He said that there was a need for regulatory action to control the manufacture, marketing and consumption of paan, arecanut and tobacco. He added that there was a need to create awareness on the ill-effects of consuming these products.

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