Dimapur, May 31 -- Reyosalu Lase Vizo, the state nodal officer for the National Oral Health Programme, NOHP, on Saturday revealed that concerning 35% of children aged 13 to 15 in Nagaland use tobacco in some form, either smoked or smokeless.

Vizo disclosed the alarming data during a 'World No Tobacco Day' event at Government Higher Secondary School, Seikhazou, Kohima, Nagaland.

"This is a deeply concerning statistic," she asserted, adding that although Nagaland does not cultivate tobacco commercially, the state is facing a public health crisis due to its consumption.

She warned that the tobacco companies are increasingly targeting children and adolescents with candy-flavoured, colourfully packaged products that mask their harmful conte...