Anti-tobacco drive in schools

 The Institute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology (ICPO) will launch an anti-tobacco awareness drive among school students in Noida. Rsearch conducted by the institute showed that students begin tobacco consumption before they hit the age of 13.

ICPO director Ravi Mehrotra said the institute, in collaboration with a few schools, would organize the awareness programme on March 12, the eve of 'No Smoking Day'. "Long-term tobacco use has been a major cause of a rise in the number of cancer patients. It is the single greatest avoidable cause of cancer mortality worldwide," he said. He added that its prevention is the most cost-effective, long-term strategy to control spread of cancer.

In 2005, ICPO had conducted a survey among 4,786 government and private school students to assess prevalence of tobacco use in that age group. The survey revealed that 537 students (11.2%) had used tobacco in some form or the other. Of these, 197 students (4.1%) were tobacco users at the time of survey. The mean age of initiation of tobacco consumption was close to 12.4 years. More than 70% boys and 80% girls were initiated into the use of tobacco before the age of 11.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/Anti-tobacco-drive-in-schools/articleshow/31634429.cms