An Awareness programme on “Ill effects of Tobacco” was given by Dr. Bongau Phom, District Nodal Officer NTCP Longleng at St. Joseph School Longleng on 12th April 2023.

At the programme, Dr. Bongau Phom said Tobacco contains nicotine which is one of the most addictive substances and thereby when one initiates consuming tobacco it becomes a lifelong addiction so from a tender age one needs to carry out an awareness campaign to make the youth aware of the danger posed by it. The most susceptible time for initiating and experimenting with tobacco use is at the tender age of 10 years. Moreover, the teens who use Tobacco today are three times more likely than nonusers to use alcohol, eight times more likely to use marijuana, and 22 times more likely to use cocaine.

Tobacco is sold rampantly in Longleng which needs strict laws and regulations. Ninety percent of Oral cancer is caused by Tobacco. Precancerous lesions are seen in many patients and they can turn into full-blown cancer in 10 years.

Along with the awareness campaign, the programme continued with the screening of Oral cancer organized by District Hospital Longleng to higher classes of St. Joseph School Longleng.

(Manjong Phom IA Longleng)