Daltonganj: Smokeless tobacco consumption is emerging as a major public health concern in Palamu, with its prevalence exceeding smoking-related tobacco use, according to officials associated with the district’s de-addiction programme.Dr Ashish Kumar, in-charge medical officer of the District Mental Health Programme and Drug De-addiction Centre at Medinirai Medical College and Hospital (MMCH), said more than 10% of the population in the district is affected by smokeless tobacco use, and the trend is rising.“Smokeless tobacco abuse is prevalent throughout the year and is seen more among men than women,” he said. Products such as khaini, gutka and paan masala account for the bulk of such consumption.Dr Kumar noted that while law enforcement agencies have intensified action against opioids, ganja and other narcotic substances, the health risks posed by smokeless tobacco often receive less attention. “There is almost a war against drugs, but smokeless tobacco abuse remains a major and often overlooked health risk,” he said.Sources cited findings from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) indicating high khaini consumption among tribal communities in Jharkhand. Health experts also challenged the perception that tobacco chewing is limited to labourers, stating that the habit cuts across social and economic groups.
