NATIONAL11 [ (Spotlight Weelky)]

Health Or Wealth?

The tobacco industry is a money-spinner for the state, but it is drawing the most vulnerable segment of society in a pall of deadly fumes

By AKSHAY SHARMA

The catchy cigarette advertisements have been off the air for some time. However, Nepalis seem to have become addicted to music contests and sporting events that carry the name of the sponsoring tobacco company in big banners.

Just like in the West, many here feel the case against smoking is not conclusive. "Smoking five to six cigarettes a day is a deterrent against the pollution in Kathmandu valley," says an environmentalist. His argument is that nicotine would guard your lungs against the noxious city air. "It is good for the national economy," says businessman Bibek Sherchan. It’s difficult to see where the banter ends in these comments.

a young smoker : Unaware of hazard?

But for a whole pack of other people, smoking was never something to laugh about. "It’s almost like a disease. The most crucial part is for a person is to kick the habit," says a smoker who is halfway through kicking the habit.

The younger generation represents the largest segment of smokers around the world and Kathmandu is no exception, according to a study conducted by Jagriti. "But it’s not only about health. It’s about the effects of advertisements that can poison a young child’s brain."

"Many smokers have successfully given up cigarettes by adopting new habits, without quitting "cold turkey," planning a special program, or seeking professional help, " said Dr Prasant Barkoti told SPOTLIGHT.

Ask unsuccessful quitters and they’ll tell you they’ve tried everything under the sun to get rid of the stick. "Remember that successful methods are as different as the individuals who adopt them," says Jagriti’s spokesperson Dhiraj K.C. "What may seem silly to others may be just what you need to quit. So don’t be embarrassed to try something new."

"Going back to one or even a few cigarettes doesn’t mean you’ve blown it. It means that you have to strengthen your determination to quit, and try again — harder. Don’t forget that you got through several days, perhaps even weeks or months, without a cigarette," a quitter-in-progress says.

"The tobacco industry is one of the most inexhaustible sources of revenue for a cash-strapped economy," says Sherchan. "Just by banning the youngsters from smoking or buying cigarettes doesn’t mean you can drive away their craving for a drag."

In this clash between macroeconomics and medical care, there are those looking for a middle way. "It’s wrong to promote advertisements that seem to suggest that it is smart to smoke," says Asish Acharya of Thamel. "In almost every publication, the first attractive display you usually come across has to do with cigarettes," he says.

"Cigarette companies think they can get away by publishing the statutory warning. But how many people do they think are influenced by letters that are so small that they sink in the midst of the colors and creativity of the advertisement?" Well, the world has been trying to figure that out since statutory labelling was made mandatory in the West.

WAYS OF QUITTING...

— Switch to a brand you find distasteful.

— Change to a brand that’s low in tar and nicotine a couple of weeks before your target date. This will help change your smoking behavior. However, do not smoke more cigarettes, inhale them more often or more deeply, or place your fingertips over the holes in the filters. All of these will increase your nicotine intake, and the idea is to get your body used to functioning without nicotine

— Cut down the number of cigarettes you smoke.

— Smoke only half of each cigarette.

— Each day, postpone lighting your first cigarette by one hour.

— Decide you’ll smoke only during odd or even hours of the day.

— Decide beforehand how many cigarettes you’ll smoke during the day. For each additional cigarette, pledge a rupee to your favorite charity.

— Change your eating habits to help you cut down on cigarettes. For example, drink milk, which many people consider incompatible with smoking. End meals or snacks with something that won’t lead to a cigarette.

— Remember: Cutting down can help you quit, but it’s not a substitute for quitting.