Tobacco and alcohol consumption have increased among both men and women in Nagaland, according to the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6), with women recording the sharpest rise in tobacco use.
The survey found that 22.8 per cent of women aged 15 years and above now use some form of tobacco, up from 13.7 per cent in NFHS-5 (2019-21). The increase of 9.1 percentage points is among the most notable shifts recorded in the latest survey.
Among men, tobacco use rose from 48.4 per cent to 52.8 per cent, meaning that more than one in every two adult men in the state uses tobacco.
Alcohol consumption also registered an increase. The proportion of women consuming alcohol rose from 0.9 per cent to 2 per cent, while the figure for men increased from 23.9 per cent to 28 per cent.
The findings come amid continuing concerns over substance use in Nagaland and are likely to add to the debate surrounding the effectiveness of the state’s prohibition regime.
The NFHS-6 data indicates that while tobacco use remains far more prevalent among men, the increase among women has been significantly steeper over the past few years.
The National Family Health Survey is conducted periodically across the country and is considered one of the most important indicators of health and social trends.
The latest figures suggest that tobacco and alcohol continue to remain a part of everyday life for a sizeable section of Nagaland’s adult population despite growing awareness of their health risks.