Delhiites least interested in quitting smoking: Study

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People in the national capital are the least interested in stubbing out their smoking habit compared to other states in north India.

A new analysis on tobacco burden in north India has revealed that attempts to quit smoking have been the least in Delhi as compared to any other state in the region.

Launched on Friday by Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, Shakuntala Gamlin, the analysis reveals that Haryana has the maximum number of cigarette smokers who made an effort to quit at some point or the other. While attempts to quit smoking were highest in Haryana at 34.2 per cent, Delhi recorded the least at just 12 per cent.

"This only shows that tobacco cessation clinics in Delhi are not working. Before seeking more clinics for Delhi in the 12th Five Year Plan, policy-makers must ensure that existing cessation facilities work," said Monika Arora, Senior Director of NGO Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth(HRIDAY).

The NGO along with the Public Health Foundation of India analysed the tobacco burden data for six north Indian states – Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Himachal. The analysis found that for smokeless tobacco products, the highest attempts to quit usage were reported in Himachal Pradesh, followed by Uttrakhand at 37.8 per cent and Delhi at 8.3 per cent.

Nationally, the proportion of adults who attempted to quit smoking is 38.4 per cent and for smokeless forms it is 35.4 per cent.