Co-ordinators of Tobacco-Free India campaign, along with faculty of St Michael’s High School, display placards on the school premises in Patna on Tuesday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, Feb. 7: Chewing guthka for half-an-hour is equal to smoking at least four cigarettes. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, smoking a cigarette reduces life expectancy by 10 minutes.

Such alarming facts came to the fore during a Tobacco-Free India campaign among students of St Michael’s Higher Secondary School today. The campaign, after covering eight states, has reached the state with an aim to spread awareness on the health hazards associated with tobacco addiction.

Over 200 students from classes VIII, IX and X were made aware of the risks of tobacco consumption habits and ways to say no to it.

The session included videos and power point presentations on spread of tobacco and its ill effects. The students also took a pledge of not to consume tobacco and discourage smoking habits among others.

A few students were bold enough to admit tobacco consumption habits in their families.

“My father chews tobacco. He has tried to quit in the past. But after a few days, he starts chewing it again. After watching the videos during today’s presentation, I will try to convince my father to quit the habit,” said Bhumika Singh, a Class IX student.

The programme came as an eye opener for the faculty members too. “After participating in the programme, I am mulling to quit smoking. The photographs of cancer patients and the perils of tobacco consumption have got me thinking,” said Donald Laurence, a mathematics teacher at the school.

The campaign organised by Bangalore-based Narain Sewa Sansthan in association with Indian Dental Association aims to spread awareness across 13 states among the masses, especially among adolescents about the hazards of tobacco products.