A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY TO ASSESS THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING HEALTH HAZARDS OF TOBACCO CHEWING AMONG ADOLESCENTS AT SELECTED URBAN AREA, AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT

Tobacco consumption is a global problem. It is the single most preventable cause for adult death and disease in the world today. It is estimated that one in three people use tobacco products, with over one million people use tobacco and its products world-wide. Nearly four million of the world population would have been saved from the clutches of death due to tobacco addiction. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance and adult people experimentation can easily lead to a life time of tobacco dependence. The adolescent's tobacco consumption has been found to be major contributors of specially adolescents have habit of tobacco consumption. For preventing tobacco the proper action required to modifications in behavior and adoption of good habits .Among the youth students are particularly involved due to increase in academic pressure and uncertain carrier encouragement from peer group, the cure of popularity , influence by favorite personalities and easily availability of tobacco in different forms make a teenager start using tobacco products daily the majority of users have first used tobacco prior to the adolescents in early age groups. Therefore, research investigator felt that to assess the level of knowledge regarding tobacco and its effect to the health among adolescents to improve the knowledge and change their attitude towards tobacco consumption.