Prayagraj: Health experts on Saturday emphasised the urgent need to safeguard youngsters from the manipulative tactics of tobacco industry, which aims to create a new generation of smokers and nicotine users. These industries use addictive and tempting flavours, attractive packaging, and digital marketing tactics to target young people and sustain tobacco consumption.While observing World No Tobacco Day under the theme ‘Unmasking The Appeal: Exposing the Industry Tactics on Tobacco & Nicotine Products’ in Sangam City on Saturday, doctors said that tobacco is the foremost preventable cause of disease and death. The focus was on mobilising efforts to enact stronger regulations that protect youngsters from the use of harmful tobacco products and deceptive advertising practices.A senior health official said that youngsters often use tobacco products to show off their status symbol, their western-style adaptability, and to pose as cool and glamorous. Easy affordability and availability, along with a lack of awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco, are the prime reasons behind the increasing addiction to tobacco. Coping with stress, anxiety, and depression is a major cause of falling into tobacco addiction, he added.Doctors claimed that farmers involved in tobacco farming must be educated and encouraged to grow other crops. Victims should be taken to rehabilitation centres (de-addiction clinics), and products need to be developed, like chewing gum and candies, which help in reducing the craving for tobacco, also known as nicotine. Regular exercise, yoga, and mind-diverting activities like music, movies, and spending time with family can be very helpful in reducing tobacco consumption. Public places should be strictly free from tobacco.