Tobacco Use and Alcohol Consumption Among College Students: A Behavioural Study in Belagavi City, Karnataka

Tobacco and alcohol consumption is a major social problem and public health issue worldwide. A review of literature on the studies of tobacco and alcohol consumption among the students across the country reveals that there is considerable prevalence among boys and girls. In this context, a cross-sectional study was conducted on tobacco use and alcohol consumption among college-going students in Belagavi corporation area in Karnataka. The study found that, as a whole, 70%-80% of all students know the harmful health effect of different forms of abuses. Among the three abuses, alcohol ever users are the highest, followed by people smoking tobacco and smokeless tobacco. The ever users of smoking tobacco are almost four times higher among males than females. The age group comprising 16-20 years is a very sensitive age group for initiating smoking and alcohol consumption. Interestingly though students had their first experience for the first time with their friends; their own curiosity was the prime cause to set off any habit. The current users of alcohol (7.2%) were higher than the current users of smoking tobacco (4.7%) and smokeless tobacco (0.37%). The daily users of smoking tobacco and alcohol were 0.87% and 1.8%, respectively. Further, occasional users of smoking tobacco were three times higher than daily users, and occasional users of alcohol were almost four times higher than daily users. None of the students were daily users of smokeless tobacco. The 19-22-year age group and those staying outside home were more vulnerable towards getting into this habit. Therefore, policy intervention is required to this age group. Friends' assistance is the single largest source to seek advice to quit from any abuse, while least assistance is taken by the professionals. This finding of the study has some critical implication for policy priority at the institutional level. This really calls for the more roles of professional counsellors to address the problem. As a whole, any single solution is not enough, however. Both exogenous and endogenous approaches are required for behavioural changes of youth.