Growing tobacco use by Badghis youth raises concerns

QALA-I-NAW (Pajhwok): Most youth in northwestern Badghis province have got addicted to the use of tobacco and hookah despite the fact that the illicit practice is injurious to their health.

A number of Badghis residents told Pajhwok Afghan News more and more youth had recently got addicted to smoking hookah.

Mohammad, a resident of Qala-i-Naw, told Pajhwok Afghan News the use of tobacco by youth had increased in the province.

He said most youth had been suffering from psychological issues due to unemployment. As a result, he claimed, they had resorted to the use of hookah.

“Recently, the consumption of tobacco has increased sharply and young people have started using it. The main reason is unemployment,” he believed.

Mohammad urged the government to take serious action to discourage addiction and create work opportunities for youth to stop them from using drugs.

Safiullah, another inhabitant, confirmed: “These days, the use of tobacco has sharply increased, causing many problems. We want the government to curb tobacco addiction.”

He said the growing use of tobacco by youth and other people would create a number of problems, including economic and social issues.

He also urged the government and other organisations to take effective measures to discourage the use of tobacco.

Mohammad Javid Akhezi, a doctor, called the use of tobacco by young people worrying. He said it caused various diseases, including heart attack, digestive disorders, skin and eye infections.

Akhezi called for the promotion of public awareness by relevant institutions to protect people and society from the bad effects of the use of harmful substance, such as tobacco

“Tobacco and similar substances cause irreparable loss and damage to various human organs and systems. Illicit substances could affect the heart, lead to respiratory diseases and harm the digestive system,” he said.

“Additionally, it encourages addiction among people and creates economic issues. The harm caused by tobacco should be made known to the masses so they could protect themselves,” he suggested.

Badghis Information Director Maulvi Baz Mohammad Sarwari said they had banned all types of drugs and other addictive substances.

He claimed the use of narcotics, hookah smoking, had declined in Badghis. The official said efforts were still underway to prevent the use of hookah.

“The Islamic Emirate has taken effective steps in this regard and banned the use of all illicit substances,” the information director maintained.

According to statistics, some10 places, where hookah is smoked, exist in Qala-i-Naw. These places are mostly visited by youth.

nh/mud

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