'Khaini' described by a survey as 'smokeless tobacco', which is chewed with a dash of lime, is the most popular tobacco product in Bihar with every second adult addicted to it. "Every second adult in Bihar uses smokeless tobacco and its prevalence in the state is the highest among all states in India," the survey by the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS India) says.
"Altogether 63 per cent males and 35 per cent females in Bihar use smokeless tobacco," it says. Among the six geographical regions of the north, east, central, north east, west and south in the country, the prevalence of tobacco use in any form and that of smokeless tobacco is the highest in the eastern region. The survey shows that tobacco use starts among adults in the state between the ages 20 and 34, while daily tobacco use starts on an average at the age 18.8 years.
The mean age of initiation of smoking and smokeless tobacco is 20-34 is and 18.8 years respectively. Every third smoker aged between 20 and 34 had started using tobacco daily before attaining the age of 18, it says. Tobacco users, especially users of smokeless tobacco, rarely quit once they start using it.
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