By Syed Majid Gilani
Have we ever truly reflected on how deeply tobacco affects not just individual users, but
entire families and generations? What was once used as a medicinal herb in ancient
times has today become one of the most quietly destructive addictions in our society.
Tobacco doesn’t just harm the body, it affects minds, weakens homes, and silently
passes from one generation to the next.
The damage begins the moment nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco, enters the
bloodstream. It quickly affects the brain, disturbs its natural balance, weakens nerves,
harms the heart, reduces immunity, affects digestion, spoils oral health, and disturbs
emotional well-being. Over time, it dulls the senses of taste and smell, and slowly drains
vitality. Yet, many people wrongly believe tobacco relieves stress. In reality, it worsens
problems, invites illness, and adds silent burdens to life.
Among the most ignored, yet harmful forms of this addiction are chewable tobacco
products like Ghutka, Naswar, Pan-Masala, and other flavored substances. These are
inexpensive, easily available, and often contain dangerous chemicals. They are directly
linked to mouth cancer, dental problems, ulcers and impaired mental focus. In many
cases, children, observing their elders at home, unconsciously pick up these habits
without understanding the risks. The early effects, stained teeth, poor concentration,
and weak memory, quietly take root, affecting their mental and emotional well-being.
Cigarettes and bidis, rolled tobacco leaves tied with a thread, are equally dangerous.
They damage the lungs, increase the risk of cancers, weaken the heart, and impair
breathing. Bidis, often wrongly considered a “lighter” or “cheaper” alternative, actually
deliver more nicotine and harmful chemicals than cigarettes. The smoke from both fills
homes with invisible toxins, affecting children and non-smoking family members alike.
Hookah, another traditionally accepted form of tobacco use, is mistakenly thought to be
safer because its smoke passes through water. In reality, a single hookah session can
expose a person to more smoke and harmful chemicals than several cigarettes. The
flavored tobacco used in hookahs carries the same deadly risks and addiction.
Naswar, a moist paste or powder placed under the lip or inside the cheek, is particularly
harmful. It can cause mouth cancer, digestive problems, and mental disturbance. Pan-
Masala and other similar products may appear harmless, but slowly erode oral health,
often leaving people unable to eat, speak, or swallow properly.
The truth Is, every form of tobacco, whether smoked, chewed, inhaled, or dipped, is
extremely harmful and dangerous. No type is safe or risk-free. Whether it comes as a
cigarette, bidi, hookah, Ghutka, Naswar, Pan-Masala, or any other product, it damages
the body, poisons the mind, and silently harms the family. The tragedy lies in how
society tends to excuse these habits in the name of old customs, ignorance, or poverty,
forgetting that no justification is enough to allow slow self-destruction and damage to
future generations.
In many poor families and certain communities, this addiction has become so
normalized that tobacco is purchased alongside groceries like rice, flour, and
vegetables. Elders openly use it, children quietly observe, and the cycle continues.
What’s most concerning is the casual acceptance of this habit. Even when addicted
parents advise their children to avoid it, their words carry little weight, as children imitate
what they see. Parents, relatives and neighbours, rather than discouraging the habit,
defend it with remarks like, “Everyone uses it, what’s the harm?”
It is time for families, communities, schools, and health workers to unite against this
silent menace. Awareness campaigns, simple educational programs, counseling, and
strict, effectively implemented laws are essential. Schools must actively educate
children about these dangers, while towns and villages should run outreach programs to
help families free themselves from this cycle. Most importantly, parents must realize that
sometimes the greatest risk their child faces is not from the outside world, but from what
they unknowingly learn within their own home.
We owe it to our children, and the generations to come, to address this issue with
honesty and courage. If we remain silent, this addiction will quietly continue destroying
our health and homes.
Syed Majid Gilani is a government officer by profession, and a writer by passion,
sharing thoughts on family, values, and human emotions. He can be reached at
syedmajid6676@gmail.com.
