This NFHS-6 data is honestly not giving very comforting picture,even if headline number says overall tobacco and alcohol use has slightly declined . Because once you look inside state-wise numbers,story becomes more worrying.
National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) shows liquor consumption among men aged 15 and above has risen from 18.7% to 18.9% . It may look like small jump on paper,but across India,this is not small thing ah .
And at same time,women's tobacco use has gone up in 13 states and Union Territories,even though national average has declined . This is exactly why only looking at national average can hide what is actually happening in different regions.
Dr. Shalini Singh from Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research also cautioned that national averages may obscure significant regional crises . She said targeted interventions are needed,rather than depending only on national statistics.
Few things standing out clearly in this NFHS-6 data:
- Tobacco use among women increased in 13 states and Union Territories .
- Alcohol consumption among men increased in 14 states.
- Rural areas show higher tobacco and alcohol consumption than urban areas.
The women tobacco numbers are especially uncomfortable. In Meghalaya,it increased from 28.3% to 34.6% . In Nagaland,it went from 13.7% to 17.4% . These are not tiny changes when we talk about public health.
And tbh,this part should worry families also,not just health departments. Tobacco use among women can directly affect maternal and child health,especially during pregnancy . It is linked with low birth weight and increased infant mortality,and earlier NFHS surveys have already shown high smokeless tobacco use among pregnant women in several regions.
This is why gender-sensitive tobacco control measures are being discussed more seriously now . Educational campaigns made for women,stronger regulations on smokeless tobacco products targeted at them,and more local-level awareness all seem needed. Generic warning posters may not work everywhere.
Alcohol side is also messy. NFHS-6 data shows alcohol consumption among men has increased in 14 states,including regions with liquor prohibitions such as Bihar . That raises obvious question about how effective prohibition is on ground,if usage is still going up . Gujarat is mentioned as only state where alcohol consumption has decreased amid prohibition .
And then there is rural-urban divide. Men in rural areas are consuming more tobacco and alcohol than urban counterparts,which is being linked to lower literacy levels and limited access to healthcare services . So again,this is not just about personal habit,it is also about awareness,access and social conditions.
Overall,this NFHS-6 picture feels like one of those cases where national average is quietly making things look better than they are . Because in some states,women are using more tobacco,men are drinking more,and rural areas are clearly carrying heavier burden… so what exactly is being missed on ground?
