Tackling Global Tobacco Crisis: An Urgent Public Health Battle

Tobacco use stands as one of the most formidable public health challenges globally, inflicting severe harm on individuals, families, and communities. The annual observation of World No Tobacco Day on May 31st serves as a vital reminder of the urgent need to address this universal issue. It is an opportunity to amplify awareness about the devastating health consequences of tobacco and promote effective strategies for reducing its consumption, ultimately aiming for a healthier, tobacco-free future.

Global Burden of Tobacco

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 8 million people die annually due to tobacco-related diseases. These deaths result from conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disorders, and stroke. Tobacco use is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases, contributing significantly to the global burden of illness and death.

Health Hazards of Tobacco

Tobacco use is the single most significant cause of preventable death worldwide. The most critical health risks associated with tobacco include:

1. Cancer: Tobacco is the leading cause of various cancers, including lung, mouth, throat, oesophagus, pancreas, bladder, and kidney cancers. The WHO reports that lung cancer alone accounts for over 1.8 million deaths each year globally.
2. Cardiovascular Diseases: Smoking significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. It contributes to the build-up of fatty substances in the arteries, leading to atherosclerosis and heart attacks.
3. Respiratory Diseases: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is predominantly caused by smoking. Tobacco smoke damages the airways and alveoli, leading to severe breathing difficulties and reduced quality of life.
4. Effects on Reproduction and Development: Tobacco use during pregnancy can result in stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight, and developmental issues in children. Additionally, it poses significant risks to female fertility and can cause impotence in men.
5. Other Risks: Smoking compromises the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infections such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. It also exacerbates conditions like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

WHO Report on Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2023

The ninth WHO report highlights the urgent need for tobacco control measures. It emphasizes the importance of implementing the MPOWER package, designed to help countries reduce tobacco use. MPOWER includes measures such as:

– Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies

– Protecting people from tobacco smoke

– Offering help to quit tobacco use

– Warning about the dangers of tobacco

– Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship

– Raising taxes on tobacco products

Role of Religious Leaders

Religious leaders hold a crucial role in the fight against tobacco use due to their significant influence within communities. By integrating messages about the dangers of tobacco into sermons and educational programs, they can effectively raise awareness and encourage healthier lifestyles. Additionally, religious institutions can support cessation programs, providing a supportive environment for individuals trying to quit through counselling, prayer, and spiritual guidance.

Religious leaders can advocate for smoke-free policies within their communities and model tobacco-free living, setting powerful examples for their followers.

Islamic View on Tobacco Consumption

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “Every intoxicant is considered khamr (wine) and every khamr is haram (impermissible).” In the Quran, Allah says, “…He [the Prophet] commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; He allows them as lawful what is good and prohibits them from what is bad…” (Quran 7:157).

Fatawaon Prohibition of Tobacco and Smoking

– The earliest fatwa on smoking was issued in Morocco in 1602. The kingdom’s Grand Mufti and the Wali of Sila both ruled that smoking isharam (forbidden) in Islam.

– In 2000, the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr. Nasr Farid Wasil, ruled that smoking isharam (forbidden) in Islam because of its detrimental health effects.

– In 2009, Majlis Ulama Indonesia, the organization of Indonesian religious scholars, declared smoking in public or near pregnant women haram (forbidden), while declaring smoking, in general, to be makruh (discouraged or reprehensible). In 2010, the Indonesian Muslim organization Muhammadiyah declared smoking haram.

– In 1891, Grand Ayatollah Mirza Hassan Shirazi issued a fatwa against tobacco use in Iran, saying that any use of tobacco from now onwards would be considered war against the Lord of the Age, Imam Mahdi (AS), the 12th and Last Successor of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Suggestions to Curb Tobacco Consumption

Addressing the tobacco epidemic requires a multifaceted approach encompassing policy, education, and community engagement. Key strategies to reduce tobacco consumption may include:

1. Comprehensive Tobacco Control Policies: Governments must enforce strict regulations, including higher taxes on tobacco products, bans on advertising and promotion, plain packaging laws, and smoke-free environments. Countries like Australia and the UK have seen significant reductions in smoking rates through such measures.
2. Public Awareness Campaigns: Education is a powerful tool in the fight against tobacco. Public health campaigns by governments and NGOs should highlight the dangers of smoking and second-hand smoke, using compelling narratives and real-life stories to resonate with diverse audiences.
3. Support for Cessation Programs: Providing accessible and effective cessation programs is crucial. This includes nicotine replacement therapies (NRT), counselling services, and mobile health interventions. Healthcare professionals should be trained to offer support and resources to individuals trying to quit smoking.
4. Youth Prevention Initiatives: Preventing tobacco use among young people is essential to curbing future tobacco-related diseases. Schools and communities should implement programs that educate youth about the risks of tobacco and develop skills to resist peer pressure.
5. Global Collaboration: International cooperation is vital to combat the global tobacco epidemic. Countries should work together to implement the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), sharing best practices and resources to strengthen tobacco control efforts worldwide.

Tips to Resist Tobacco Cravings

1. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT): Consider options such as nicotine patches, chewing gum, lozenges, nasal sprays, or inhalers. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized advice on NRT.
2. Avoid Triggers: Identify situations or places where you used to smoke or chew tobacco. Develop strategies to avoid these triggers or cope with them without using tobacco.
3. Delay and Distract: When a craving strikes, tell yourself to wait for 10 more minutes. Engage in an activity to distract yourself during that time.
4. Chew on It: Keep your mouth busy with sugarless gum, hard candy, crunchy snacks, or munch on raw carrots, nuts, or sunflower seeds.
5. Say No to ‘Just One’: Resist the temptation or coaxing by friends to have “just one” cigarette. Remember that one often leads to more.
6. Physical Activity: Exercise helps distract from tobacco cravings. Even short bursts of activity can make cravings subside.
7. Public Health Strategies: Advocate for increasing tobacco prices, smoke-free policies, restrictions on marketing by the tobacco industry, and social norms that discourage tobacco use.

The fight against tobacco is far from over, but with continued effort, it is a battle we can win. On World No Tobacco Day, we are reminded of the devastating impact of tobacco and the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to curb its consumption. By implementing strict regulations, raising public awareness, supporting cessation programs, preventing youth tobacco use, and fostering global collaboration, we can significantly reduce tobacco-related illnesses and deaths. Let us renew our commitment to ending the global tobacco epidemic and ensuring a healthier future for generations to come.

[Dr. M. Iqbal Siddiqui is Assistant Secretary, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind]