A Comparative Study on the Health Problems and Substance Abuse among the Tobacco Farmers and Non-Tobacco Farmers in Hassan District, Karnataka.

Background And Aims: India ranks third in the worldwide tobacco production (2017), and it is increasing every year. Hassan is an important tobacco growing district in Karnataka with over 12,000 growers. These growers are exposed to health risks during cultivation of tobacco, pesticide exposure, long duration of work, mental stress, and nicotine toxicity - Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS) due to direct handling of green tobacco leaves.