Lok Sabha Question No. 1218 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-09
Subject: Mental Illness due to Smoking
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RANJANBEN BHATT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1 218 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH FEBRUARY, 2018

## MENTAL ILLNESS DUE T O SMOKING

## 1218. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether smoking increases the risk of mental illness;
- (b) if so, whether the Government is considering to take any firm steps to check smoking;
- (c) if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a): Studies  have  shown  that  early  life  exposure  to  smoking  has  been  demonstrated  to associated with enhanced anxiety response in later life. There are also studies which demonstrate association between chronic smoking and psychotic illness.

Few other studies show that tobacco smokers are likely to develop anxiety disorder depression over a period of time.

Some studies also suggest that patients alr eady t king antidepressants or antipsychotic drugs  for  anxiety,  depression,  schizophrenia,  etc  need  higher  doses  of  these  medici compared to non - smokers.

Quitting smoking helps in boosting mental health and well being, improve mood and he relieve s tress, anxiety and depression.

- (b) & (c): The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has enacted a comprehensive legislatio namely  the  Cigarettes  and  Other  Tobacco  Products  (Prohibition  of  Advertisement  a Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Su pply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA 2003) to discourage the consumption of tobacco products in order to protect the masses fr health hazards attributable to tobacco use.

Contd……..

The  National  Tobacco  Control  Programme  (NTCP)  was  launched  b y  this  Ministry  in 2007-08 with the aim to (i) create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consum (ii) reduce the production and supply of tobacco products, (iii) ensure effective implem of the provisions under COTPA, 2003 (iv) hel p the people quit tobacco use, and (v) facilitate implementation  of  strategies  for  prevention  and  control  of  tobacco  advocated  by  W Framework Convention of Tobacco Control.

Government  of  India  notified  rules  to  regulate  films  and  TV  programmes  depicti scenes of tobacco usage to spread awareness. Such films and TV programmes are statuto required to run anti - tobacco health spots, disclaimers and static health warnings.

Further, to spread awareness on adverse impact of consumption of tobacco products, size  of  specified  health  warnings  on  packages  of  tobacco  and  tobacco  products  has increased to 85% w.e.f. 1 st April, 2016.

The Ministry started National Toll - free H elpline in 2008, with a primary aim to report violations  under  various  provisions  of  COTPA  2003.  In  addition,  this  Helpline  prov information  on  harmful  effects  of  consumption  of  tobacco,  and  on  how  to  quit  tobacco including after -effects of quitti ng tobacco.

The  Ministry  also  started  National  Tobacco  Quitline  to  provide  tobacco  cessat services to the community and has launched a pan -India 'mCessation' initiative to reach out to tobacco  users  who  are  willing  to  quit  tobacco  use  and  to  support  the m  towards  successful quitting through text - messaging via mobile phones.

The stakeholders are being made aware on a regular basis about the adverse effec tobacco  usage  on  health  through  various  anti -tobacco  campaigns  vide  different  mode  of communication.

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