KEY MESSAGES
-  About 45 surveys conducted since the 1960s in urban and rural areas are available,  covering different age groups, but only a handful were large enough to be representative of the area studied.
-  According to the National Sample Survey 52nd Round and National Family Health Survey- 2, male tobacco use prevalence was 51.3% in 1995 - 1996 and 46.5% in 1998 - 1999. The prevalence of tobacco use among females was 10.3% and 13.8%, respectively.
-  Geographic area is a determinant of the type of tobacco use and prevalence of usage; overall tobacco use increases towards the centre, the north and the east. Chewing tobacco use also follows this pattern. Smoking has an increasing gradient towards the north, northwest, northeast and in the two states of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
-  The National Household Survey of Drug and Alcohol Abuse conducted in 25 states (excluding Jammu and Kashmir) in 2002 reports that 55.8% of males 12 - 60 years of age currently use tobacco.
-  Tobacco use prevalence among males is higher compared to females and among older age groups compared to the younger age groups.

If you use tobacco in any form
People who use tobacco are at risk for several cancers.
Smokers are at risk for mouth (oral), larynx, and lung cancers, and other serious diseases, such as heart and lung diseases, circulatory disease, and stroke. hose who use tobacco that they put in their mouth are at greatest risk for mouth cancer. Mouth cancer is one of the most common cancers in India due to the use of tobacco. 

Mouth (oral) cancer can be found in the early stages with an oral exam by your doctor. Ask your doctor about how often you should have an oral exam.

Quitting all types of tobacco use greatly reduces your risk for oral cancer. he best prevention is to avoid tobacco use altogether.