Dr. Samir Vinchurkar
Tobacco is one of the leading causes of mortality in India, significantly correlated with gender, occupation, education and age. With more than 100 million smokers and another 200 million users of smokeless tobacco products (SLTs), India ranks as one of the highest manufacturer and consumer of tobacco products worldwide. Further, 50% of oral cancers are attributed to SLTs with the highest mortality rates in women globally. The magnitude and pattern of tobacco consumption are influenced by the geographical setting, and with rapid urbanization in India, there is an urgent need to understand this differential pattern. This will assist in planning tobacco cessation initiatives across rural and urban India. Tobacco harm reduction (THR) initiatives have creatively employed innovative methods for harm reduction including philately to smartphone based apps for awareness, detection, treatment, diet and lifestyles.