Tobacco use among youths quite frightening – Experts

 As Nigeria be a part of the relaxation of the world to mark the 2023 World No Tobacco Day, clinical professionals have decried tobacco use amongst youths in the country, stressing that it has assumed a horrifying dimension.


They additionally cited that apart from tobacco, many now use Indian hemp to prepare dinner rice and soup to get an all-time high.


The specialists counseled the youths to desist from the negative act, stressing that barring destroying fundamental organs in the physique like the liver and the lungs, Indian hemp will increase three instances the hazard of intellectual fitness problems.


The senior fitness expert who spoke completely to PUNCH Health Wise in commemoration of the day entreated the Federal Government to make bigger excise tax on tobacco merchandise to deter humans from tobacco use.


World No Tobacco Day is celebrated each 12 months on May 31, to teach the public on the risks of the use of tobacco, the enterprise practices of tobacco corporations and what the World Health Organisation is doing to combat the tobacco epidemic.


The day is additionally used to increase recognition on what human beings round the world can do to declare their proper to fitness and wholesome residing and to defend future generations.


This year’s theme is ‘Grow Food, Not Tobacco.’


Speaking with our correspondent, a Consultant Pathologist, Dr. Michael Ajala, said tobacco use influences each organ of the body, warning that tobacco use aggravates asthma.


Reeling out the risks of tobacco use on health, the pathologist said, “Tobacco use decreases the oxygen in the lungs that are on hand for consumption. It reasons continual obstructive pulmonary diseases. It has been implicated as worsening diabetes mellitus.


“In men, for instance, tobacco use reasons erectile dysfunction. It has been linked to so many cancers such as most cancers of the bladder, uterus, breast, throat and lungs. That is why taking tobacco is a very horrible thing.”


Dr. Ajala, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Help Diagnostics and Checkup Services, Lagos, additionally stated that tobacco use leads to liver harm and preterm birth.


“Many youth from the age of 17 years now not solely smoke hemp, they now plant Indian hemp and marijuana in their houses. They cook dinner rice and soup with it.


“It is a frequent exercise amongst younger humans out there. As tobacco is common, so is Indian hemp and marijuana. The youths are into drug use and the fact is that these pills are destroying their lives. Tobacco use reduces existence expectancy.”


He known as on the authorities and applicable stakeholders to expand recognition on the risks of tobacco use, whilst additionally urging the Federal Government to area heavy tax on tobacco merchandise to discourage human beings from the use of them.


The World Health Organisation says there is a upward jostle in the range of tobacco customers in the African place due to the elevated manufacturing of tobacco merchandise and aggressive advertising through the tobacco industry.


According to the world body, whilst the wide variety of humans the usage of tobacco merchandise is lowering in different components of the world, it is rising in the Africa Region.


In her message to commemorate the day, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, who disclosed this said, “For example, the range of tobacco customers in the WHO African Region elevated from an estimated sixty four million person customers in 2000 to seventy three million in 2018.”


A Consultant Psychiatrist, Drug Abuse Unit, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Aro, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Dr. Sunday Amosu, advised our correspondent that Indian hemp is the most frequent illicit substance of abuse in Africa, West Africa, the total world and Nigeria inclusive.


“And we understand that hashish will increase three instances the hazard of having intellectual fitness problems. Cannabis which is Indian hemp is the frequent illicit substance of abuse in Africa, West Africa, the entire world and Nigeria inclusive.


“This is partly due to the expanded manufacturing of tobacco merchandise as properly as aggressive advertising with the aid of the tobacco industry.


“And we understand that hashish will increase three instances the threat of having intellectual fitness problems.”


PUNCH 

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