Catering to the needs of people who are trying to quit smoking or chewing tobacco, Bhutan Narcotics Control Authority (BNCA) today launched Nicotine Replacement Therapy. Nicotine Replacement Therapy in the form of nicotine gum and nicotine patches will now be available in pharmacies.
Although 23.9% of Bhutanese consume tobacco, Global Youth Tobacco Survey, Bhutan 2020 shows that more than 8 in 10 tobacco users wanted to stop the use of tobacco.
And the Nicotine Replacement Therapy which is a substitution in a form of gum and patches will help the tobacco users with withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
“Since it is going to be a replacement therapy we are lowering the nicotine contain slowly in the form of gum so that people will be able to quit tobacco and tobacco products. It can be smoking or chewing gum. Any tobacco all those health hazards and health hazards are not just by nicotine. A health hazard is because of the other chemicals that are there,” said Sonam Dorji, the Director-General of the BNCA.
World Health Organisation recently reported that tobacco users are more likely to get infected with coronavirus and has recommended to quit using tobacco. The authority says the availability of nicotine substitute can encourage tobacco users to quit tobacco consumption. It will be provided free for two months to those who wish to avail the therapy.
“The gum and patch will be much cheaper for tobacco user if they want to substitute it. And then it is just a matter of a month or two and then you don’t have to continue with that habit. And we will be providing it for free to help and see how much compliance we have from people,” he added.
The authority is going to train pharmacists with counselling so that the therapy result is effective.
Sangay Chezom
