For Pakistan’s smokers, no aids to help kick the habit

Karachi

As part of their New Year’s resolutions, many chain smokers would have decided to quit smoking but unfortunately, the pharmaceutical products that help in kicking the habit including nicotine gum, patches and pills are unavailable at local drug stores and only found at a few supermarkets at prices that ordinary smokers cannot afford.

Despite vowing never to smoke again, withdrawal symptoms compel many smokers to break their pledge as their will power alone does not provide enough motivation to fight off the urge.

No local pharmaceutical firm manufactures nicotine gum, tablets or patches in Pakistan.

Pulmonologists and physicians have to prescribe smuggled products to smokers as nicotine gum, pills and patches are not registered with the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.

 “Following raids by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in recent weeks against unregistered and smuggled drugs, nicotine gum and other products are not available in the local market,” an office-bearer of the wholesale medicine market association told The News.

“Some superstores are still selling these gums but their price is now between Rs2,500 and Rs3,000 per pack against Rs1,200 and Rs1,500 before the FIA raids.”

The wholesale medicine dealer said most nicotine products were not registered in Pakistan and smuggled from the Middle East and neighbouring countries.

“Nicotine gum and other products were available in the medicine market but when the FIA conducted raids at market and warehouses where unregistered medicines were kept, the wholesalers and traders stopped their supply to drug stores and supermarkets in the city.

He added that there was a huge demand for nicotine gum in Pakistan, especially in Karachi, after the public grew aware of the hazards of smoking and many people bought these products to help them deal with withdrawal symptoms.

“When people are unable to buy nicotine products meant for quitting smoking, they turn to other tobacco products like paan which too is hazardous for health and can cause oral cancer and other health problems.”

Renowned pulmonologist Dr Nadeem Rizvi said nicotine products like gums and patches definitely helped chain smokers in kicking the habit, but they also had to use their will power to deal with the withdrawal symptoms.

“These [nicotine] products are very expensive and are not as helpful as presumed by smokers. They lower the urge for nicotine but the smokers still have to fight the urge to light a cigarette,” he added.

Dr. Rizvi was of the opinion that instead of relying on drugs and other methods, smokers should use their will power to quit smoking for their own well being as well as that of their family.

“A smoker will have to face problems for a few days after giving up the habit but it will help them live a better life,” he said.