The Battling Tobacco Addiction

Average lifespan of a Gujarat police official is barely 60 years, reveal studies conducted by medical experts. The reasons for the phenomenon range from lifestyle with no fixed schedule to bad eating habits and use of tobacco products.

To help the middle-rung officials in the state police force quit the habit of tobacco use, an awareness campaign has been organised jointly by the city police and state tobacco control cell from Monday to Friday. 150 police sub-inspectors (PSIs) will get personal counseling by experts at Shahibaug police headquarters.

"There have been instances of policemen dying on duty due to heat attacks. In some of the cases, we have found that the heavy use of tobacco was reason behind a number of ailments from lung cancer to mouth diseases. Out of the participants, many confessed that they have become addicts of chewing tobacco or having bidi or cigarette during and even after the duty hours," said one of the counselors at the event.

"This programme will help me quit smoking Lucky Strike as I have come to know what is the extent of harm smoking does," said a PSI and participant at the event, N V Rabari. Others who are nonsmokers also got the message what not to do like I S Vasava, another PSI. "I have never used tobacco but as I know the ill-effects of its use, I will prevent others from getting addicted," he said.

In-charge assistant commissioner of police, headquarters, V A Rehvar, said that the aim of the programme is to spread awareness amongst the staff members. "We want police officials to quit tobacco usage to secure their health, save money and improve police's image to become an example for others," he said.