Goa, Aug. 14 -- Goa is witnessing a sharp rise in tobacco consumption, with recent data from the Goa Dental College and Hospital's Tobacco Cessation Centre (TCC) highlighting a concerning trend. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of smokeless tobacco users surged by 46%, increasing from 914 to 1,335 cases. Smoking-related cases rose 54%, climbing from 488 to 752. The first half of 2025 has already recorded 662 new cases of smokeless tobacco use, indicating the trend shows no signs of slowing.

Health authorities attribute some of this increase to improved awareness, outreach, and reporting, yet public health experts, including Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, caution that the surge reflects a growing public health crisis. Smokeless tobacco ...