Ranchi: Tobacco and alcohol consumption among men in Jharkhand remain significantly higher than the national average, emerging as a major public health concern even as the state made modest gains in other health indicators, according to the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) data for 2023-24, released on Friday. However, the state has shown improvement compared to the previous NFHS-5 survey (2019-21).
High Tobacco Use Prevalence
The survey revealed that around 45% of men in Jharkhand use tobacco, higher than the national average of about 36%, indicating widespread dependence across both rural and urban areas. Medical experts said that this behavior underscores persistent behavioral risk factors that could drive a future rise in non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular ailments, and respiratory illnesses.
Alcohol Consumption Trends
Alcohol consumption follows a similar trend. Men consuming alcohol (33.6%) in Jharkhand constitute a significantly higher share than the national average (18.9%). Public health experts said the twin burden of tobacco and alcohol consumption is compounding risks, particularly among economically vulnerable populations.
“Despite growing awareness campaigns, the state’s high prevalence of tobacco use reflects gaps in enforcement of anti-tobacco laws, limited counseling services, and inadequate de-addiction infrastructure. Rural pockets and tribal-dominated regions remain especially vulnerable,” said an official of the health department.
Implications for Health Outcomes
NFHS-6 findings assume importance as lifestyle diseases are on the rise, and high tobacco and alcohol use could undermine gains made in maternal and child health. Experts argued that tackling these habits is critical to improving overall health outcomes. They stressed the need for targeted interventions, including stricter enforcement of tobacco control laws, expansion of de-addiction centers, behavioral change campaigns, and integration of substance use counseling into primary healthcare.
About the Author: ASRP Mukesh holds over 15 years of journalistic experience. He covers government, politics, and human interest stories from Jharkhand.
