Protecting my “GOPAL” (SRIJAY) from tobacco menace

As a father, it is my responsibility to protect my GOPAL, from the tobacco menace that is plaguing our society. With so much advertisement and easy availability, my little one is always at risk that he may get hooked on tobacco. E-cigarettes becoming a fashion statement in many high schools, so it becomes even more imperative that I educate my child against nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and even a single puff or chew may be enough to hook the young one. At the start, it may be a pleasure but soon it proves to be a painful death sentence. I cannot allow my GOPAL to become a scapegoat and a sacrificial goat. Tobacco is a harmful substance that can cause various diseases, such as cancer, heart problems, and lung damage. It can also affect the mental and emotional health of the user, as well as the people around them. Tobacco addiction is hard to overcome, and it can ruin lives and relationships.

That’s why I decided to educate my child about the dangers of tobacco from an early age. I wanted to instill in him a sense of responsibility and awareness and to help him make informed choices. I also wanted to be a good role model for him, by not smoking or using any tobacco products myself. I believe that parents have a crucial role in preventing their children from falling into the tobacco trap.

Here are some of the strategies that I used to protect my young one from tobacco:

– I talked to him openly and honestly about the effects of tobacco on the body and mind. I used facts and statistics to show him how tobacco can harm his health and well-being. I also explained to him how tobacco companies target young people with their marketing and advertising, and how they manipulate them into becoming addicted.

– I listened to his questions and concerns and answered them patiently and respectfully. I did not judge or criticize him for being curious or tempted by tobacco. I tried to understand his perspective and feelings and to empathize with him. I also encouraged him to express his opinions and thoughts, and to share his experiences and challenges with me.

– I supported him in developing his self-esteem and confidence. I praised him for his achievements and talents, and for his positive qualities and values. I also helped him cope with stress and difficulties, and to find healthy ways to relax and have fun. I showed him that he does not need tobacco to feel good or fit in with others.

– I involved him in activities that promote his physical and mental health. I encouraged him to exercise regularly, eat well, sleep well, and stay hydrated. I also introduced him to hobbies and interests that he enjoys, such as music, art, sports, and reading. I made sure that he had enough time and space to pursue his passions and goals.

– I monitored his exposure to tobacco in the media and in his social circle. I limited his access to movies, shows, games, or websites that glamorize or normalize tobacco use. I also talked to him about peer pressure and how to deal with it. I taught him how to say no to tobacco offers, and how to avoid or leave situations where tobacco is present.

By following these strategies, I was able to protect my young one from the tobacco menace. He is now a healthy, happy, and responsible teenager who does not smoke or use any tobacco products. He is also aware of the risks of tobacco, and he is determined to stay away from it. He is proud of himself for making smart choices, and so am I. He is a role model for his classmates. He is a proud TOBACCO MARSHAL! He has become a role model and is depicted as MASCOT ‘SRIJAY’ for ICanCaRe. He is now staying in a hostel away from me but I am confident he will not get into the trap of tobacco or vapes.

I plead to all parents to SAVE the YOUTH our future generation from disaster of tobacco. Be a TOBACCO MARSHAL and learn the 8Rs of Tobacco and the way to communicate with the upcoming generation. we invite you to join as TOBACCO MARSHAL today. Together, we can create a tobacco-free generation and a healthier world for everyone.

Join the ICanCaRe Tobacco MARSHAL (www.icancare.in/academy/marshal) program – mail to tobaccoamarshal@gmail.com

Join the ICanCaRe FB community and remain connected – www.facebook.com/groups/icancare

#icancare #tobaccomarshal #icancareacademy #sonalbhatia #pawangupta #savetheyouth

(The Author – Dr. Pawan Gupta M.Ch. is Director of Surgical Oncology at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali, Patparganj, and Noida. He is the author of the books – Win Over Tobacco Made Easy, Be Smart Do Not Start and is highly recognized for his work on Oral Cancer and Tobacco Cessation. He is the convenor for the Certified Course in Tobacco Cessation at Gujarat University, and has trained more than 1000 doctors to be tobacco cessation specialists).

Book your appointment today to start a healthy tobacco/smoke-free life with the best in class tobacco/smoking cessation experts at www.icancare.in/quittobacco or call 011-430-77695 for help. Download the ICanCaRe e-cessation app for quitting smoking and tobacco at https://app.icancare.in. 

Teachers as Anti – Tobacco Marshal

Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease in the world. According to the World Health Organization, tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year, and more than 7 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use while around 1.2 million are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.

India is the highest consumer of tobacco in the WORLD – it has the highest Oral Cancers and the highest death due to tobacco every day. With about 5500 youths starting tobacco every day and 3700 die every day. A Sustained activity at the school level will bring a change in society.

Tobacco use also harms the environment, contributing to deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, and climate change. Moreover, tobacco use imposes a huge economic burden on society, as it increases health care costs, reduces productivity, and lowers the quality of life of smokers and their families.

To combat this global health threat, we need to mobilize all sectors of society, including educators. Teachers play a vital role in shaping the attitudes and behaviors of young people, who are the most vulnerable to the influence of tobacco industry marketing and peer pressure. Teachers can also serve as role models for their students by not using tobacco themselves and by promoting a tobacco-free culture in their schools and communities.

That is why we are launching a new initiative called TEACHERS as ANTI – TOBACCO MARSHAL. This initiative aims to empower teachers to become agents of change in the fight against tobacco. By joining this initiative, teachers will receive training and resources on how to educate their students about the harms of tobacco use, how to help them resist tobacco initiation and quit if they already use it, and how to advocate for tobacco control policies at the local and national levels.

Teachers joining this initiative will also become part of a network of like-minded educators who share best practices and experiences on implementing effective tobacco prevention and cessation programs in their schools. They will also have the opportunity to participate in various events and activities that celebrate their achievements and recognize their contributions to the tobacco control movement.

If you are a teacher who wants to make a difference in the lives of your students and your community, we invite you to join TEACHERS as ANTI-TOBACCO MARSHAL today. Together, we can create a tobacco-free generation and a healthier world for everyone.

Join the ICanCaRe Tobacco MARSHAL program – mail to tobaccomarshal@gmail.com

Certified Tobacco Specialist Batch of August – September 2023

CERTIFIED TOBACCO SPECIALIST BATCH OF AUGUST – SEPTEMBER 2023 on 3.9.2023

CERTIFIED TOBACCO SPECIALIST BATCH OF AUGUST – SEPTEMBER 2023 on 3.9.2023

CERTIFIED TOBACCO CESSATION SPECIALIST (CTCS) course accredited by Gujarat University and conducted by ICanCaRe Academy as 18.5 hours of training either online or offline. The August – September batch had physical Training at Faridabad on 13-15th August and the assessment was done online on 3.9.2023.

The physical training saw many advantages with extra interaction, comradeship, and enthusiastic participation in course delivery with live role modeling case discussion and panel discussion. Two Workshops were also conducted “7 star Architectural Intervention” and “The SAND BOX”.

The enthusiastic August-September 2023 Batch of the Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists course consists of doctors from various disciplines- Pulmonologist, Surgical oncologist, ENT and Head neck Onco-surgeon, Pedodontics, Oral medicine and Radiologist, dental surgeon, Community medicine, Dietitian. They came from all parts of India. For the first time an Anaesthetist, Dr. Neha Agrawal has joined the course and she became the first Anaesthetist of India to be a Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialist.

Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists are the most important link for #SAVEtheyouth Campaign as they are at the pinnacle and trained extensively for intervention to successfully help quit tobacco for their patients. As a Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialist, it is expected they learn the ABCDEFGH of tobacco Cessation and do ABCD Of Tobacco Cessation for 100% Quit rate with their clients. They are trained on the ICanCaRe APP which makes the intervention simple and protocol-based easy to follow up. They are encouraged to start professional Tobacco Cessation practice.

We welcome each one of them into the ICanCaRe family as they join the #SAVEtheyouth campaign as Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists.

CTCS course is accredited by Gujarat University and the only such course in India giving practical experience, ICanCaRe APP for digitalized protocol intervention. To know more go to http://www.icancare.in/academy/ctcs It is an 8-week course with dedicated 2.5 hours each week, with a lot of reading material, etc., or 3 days of offline course done physically at any of the ICanCaRe centres of Excellence.