Tobacco is a gateway to drug addiction: Dir Health

Srinagar, Apr 05  : Consuming tobacco is the main cause of drug addiction and quitting smoking can help in curbing drug addiction, Directorate of Health Services Kashmir said on Wednesday.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the National Tobacco Control Programme at Banquet Hall Srinagar, DHSK Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that drug addiction is on the rise and they will be able to make people quit smoking to curb drug addiction to a large extent.

“Divisional commissioner has directed all stakeholders including school and college Principals to constitute committees and impose fines on those who are violating government orders,” he said.

“We have already issued notification to make education Institutes tobacco free and if we will control the young generation from smoking, then it will be a big success,” he added.

“In the last few years, there has been a change on the ground that hardly anybody smokes now in public places and such incidents are declining”, Rather said.

“We are ready to tackle any situation as we have managed all waves of Covid-19 very well so far,” he said.

Cases are on rise but there is no need to panic and people must take precautions, he said, adding that mock drill to check covid-19 preparedness in kashmir will be done on April 10—(KNO)