Domestic
violence leads more smokers and tobacco chewers, a new study conducted
in India has found. In a study held by scientists from Harvard School
of Public Health, researchers found that many people refer smoking as a
stress reliever in their domestic violence.

Despite of the fact that smoking leads to life-threatening disease such
as cancer, Indian smokers cite smoking and tobacco as stress reliever.
In India, smoking and chewing tobacco has resulted in more than 800,000
deaths. The smoking rate for men is 29 percent and women 3 percent.
While, the tobacco chewing rate for men is 29 percent and 12 percent
for women.

Study stated that around 40 percent of Indian women have been slapped,
hit, kicked or beaten during their marriages. In the United States,
smaller studies too have shown a relation between domestic violence and
smoking.

Another study showed an association between the extent of tobacco advertising and impact on tobacco use.

The study; by the Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst
Youth (HRIDAY), a non-government organization; found that tobacco use
has increased with higher level of exposure to tobacco advertising.

The study was carried out on the students between VI and VIII standard
in Delhi and Chennai. It also identifies those who are interested in
tobacco advertisements are more likely to use tobacco. The health
ministry hasn’t taken any robust steps to reduce the use of tobacco and
smoking.

Earlier this month, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said that
government is highly strict on its stand on National Tobacco Control
Authority, NTCA soon after its campaign to enforce the rule ‘Publishing
Pictorial Warning’ over the tobacco product.