Smoking in public violates fundamental principle of human values

Bhubaneswar: Smoking in public violates a fundamental principle of human values — not causing harm to another person.

But tobacco use, whether active or passive, is not merely a personal choice but amounts to public health hazard, Prof. (Dr.) Sanghamitra Mishra, Dean of Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital here, said on the World No Tobacco Day observed on Saturday.

Second hand smoke, inhaled by non-smokers which include children, the elderly and the sick, amounted to a silent act of harm, she said in a message issued on the day as the Psychiatry Department of the hospital observed the occasion by conducting an awareness program.

Prof. (Dr.) Mishra expressed concern about the resurfacing of the Covid infection in 2025 saying it had exposed the society’s collective vulnerability to such pandemics. Those with respiratory systems compromised through tobacco use faced the prospect of suffering severe Covid outcomes, she said.

Prof. (Dr.) Pusparaj Samantasinghar, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, who attended the program as chief guest, said the attractive advertisements which promoted tobacco use had been drawing the youth into its grip.

“We must seriously think as to how to battle the influence of tobacco,” he said.

Dr. Titas Choudhury discussed as to how tobacco products and the advertisements promoting them were successfully attracting the youth. Dr. Jitendriya Biswal, Dr. Soumya Ranjan Dash and Dr. Amiya Krushna Sahu also deliberated on the issue. Prof. (Dr.) Surjeet Sahoo, Head of Department of Psychiatry was present.

Prof. (Dr.) Subhendu Narayan Mishra, Professor in Psychiatry Department, said that the hospital was running a Tobacco Cessation Centre where people desiring to kick the habit could come for counseling.