Across the globe, May 31st is observed as World No Tobacco Day. This year, the day will be observed under the theme Unmasking the Appeal – Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction.
Dr. Pavithra Mony, Consultant Psychiatrist, at Royal Care Hospital – City Centre shared that while many smokers try to quit abruptly, the nicotine withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, irritability, and intense cravings often lead to relapse. This is why treating tobacco dependence as a medical condition is critical.
She underlined that Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) with nicotine patches or nicotine gums provides a safer, clinically approved way to manage dependence.
“It supplies controlled doses of nicotine without exposing the body to harmful smoke. This allows smokers to gradually step down their dependence while avoiding severe withdrawal symptoms,” she said.
In a press release she stated that there is evidence which show that combining NRT with counselling significantly improves quit success rates. It transforms quitting from a struggle into a structured process.
Coimbatore’s growing awareness around tobacco risks is a positive sign, yet smoking and tobacco use continue to persist across both urban and rural populations. As Coimbatore strengthens its public health approach, experts emphasise that making cessation tools like NRT more accessible and acceptable is key to reducing smoking rates effectively.
