Experts stress integrated approach to tobacco cessation

A Tobacco Cessation Intervention Workshop held at the Cancer Institute (WIA) brought together experts from clinical, public health and policy domains, and highlighted the need for coordinated, evidence-based strategies to curb tobacco use.

The programme, supported by HCL Foundation, Indian Cancer Society, the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and Vital Strategies, was inaugurated by Kalpana Balakrishnan, CEO and medical director, and Krishna Raj, joint director, Directorate of Public Health and State Tobacco Control Cell, Government of Tamil Nadu. Eleven dental colleges and four medical colleges participated.

Deliberations focused on the burden of tobacco-related diseases, global frameworks and practical cessation strategies.

R. Swaminathan, associate director, outlined the link between tobacco use and cancers, while Vedha V. P. K., National Professional Officer (Tobacco Control), World Health Organisation, highlighted global measures such as MPOWER.

Experts also discussed behavioural and clinical approaches to quitting, including nicotine addiction management and pharmacotherapy, alongside emerging tools such as AI-assisted interventions. The need for strengthening State-level programmes and integrating cessation services into routine healthcare was also emphasised.