Can we eradicate smoking ?

The smoking habit is not natural but acquired one as one has to learn smoking. How does one get initiated to smoking ? Social influence such as parental example, sibling, friends' pressure and motivation by industrial promoters, initiate youth to smoking. Seductive tobacco advertisements by the cigarette manufacturers play a vital role in the initiation of new smokers. The tobacco industry is very powerful the world over. Tobacco industries spend US$ 25-30 billion every year to promote smoking as they need to add 2-3 million new smokers every year to run their business successfully. The smoking is an addictive habit and the danger posed by use of tobacco is not recognized by most of smokers as well as governments the world over. Non-smokers also suffer because of contaminated atmosphere.

Nicotine is the active agent behind the drug dependence of tobacco. A smoker experiences withdrawal symptoms after considerable time and gets stimulation through smoking. Habits can not be checked by force but through determination and medical and psychological counseling. Can we eradicate smoking ? Yes, probably we can eradicate smoking with political determination, public participation and community counseling. Tobacco perhaps is the more abused drug than alcohol but less dependence inducing. The cultural, commercial and economical factors are involved in addiction to cigarette (or biri) smoking. There is a need for strong governance and policies to bring social transformation to eradicate smoking.