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New Delhi – Health experts are raising the alarm over a silent epidemic, cautioning that traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes, bidis, and chewable tobacco continue to pose a significant and often overlooked cancer risk to India’s youth. While public discourse has focused heavily on emerging trends like vaping, experts say the data points to a far more urgent crisis tied to established tobacco use.
According to health professionals, traditional tobacco’s grip on young people is a more pressing issue than modern alternatives. A 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey found that 8.5% of students aged 13-15 use tobacco, contributing to the staggering 1.3 million annual deaths linked to tobacco in India.
Dr. Narender Saini, Chairman of the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Standing Committee at the Indian Medical Association (IMA), highlighted the direct link between combustible tobacco and lung cancer. “Over 90% of lung cancer cases in India are linked to combustible tobacco,” he stated, adding that he regularly treats patients as young as 17 for tobacco-induced complications. He emphasized the need for a “calibrated approach that combines prevention, regulation, and public awareness—not selective panic.”
The medical community is concerned that the focus on new trends is overshadowing the silent epidemic of oral and throat cancers, particularly among those under 25, which are often linked to traditional products like gutkha and khaini. Dr. Chandrakant S. Pandav, a Padma Shri awardee and former professor at AIIMS, New Delhi, echoed this sentiment, noting that the traditional tobacco landscape remains largely unchallenged in schools and villages.
Dr. Pawan Gupta, a Senior Consultant in Pulmonary Medicine, reinforced the gravity of the situation. “The damage inflicted by traditional tobacco begins early and lasts a lifetime,” he said. “With 1.35 million deaths annually, the science is clear: traditional tobacco is a proven killer, and our youth are its most vulnerable targets.”
Experts are calling for renewed efforts, including stronger school-based interventions, community awareness campaigns, and stricter enforcement of existing laws to bridge the gap between data and policy. They argue that a unified strategy is essential to tackle both the supply and demand sides of the issue, ensuring young Indians are protected from all forms of tobacco harm.
Disclaimer: This news article is intended for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis, treatment, and medical advice.
Reference: Nagaland Tribune. (2025). Cigarettes, bidis, chewable tobacco continue to silently raise cancer risks in youth: Experts. Retrieved from https://nagalandtribune.in/cigarettes-bidis-chewable-tobacco-continue-to-silently-raise-cancer-risks-in-youth-experts/
