Final answer:
Research indicates that bidis are not a safer alternative to cigarettes, and they carry serious health risks similar to those of other tobacco products. History illustrates how tobacco marketing has shaped public perceptions, making certain products popular. Efforts to regulate tobacco use globally highlight its public health implications.
Step-by-step explanation:
Despite the perception that bidis are safer than regular cigarettes, research debunks this myth, indicating they are not a safer alternative. Bidis, like e-cigarettes, can be used discreetly, making them popular among middle and high school students. Nonetheless, bidis still pose significant health risks, including increased chances of bone fractures and delayed wound healing post-surgery. Tobacco use, in any form, continues to be associated with serious health complications.
The historical context provided by James Duke's efforts in the late 19th and early 20th century portrays the evolution of tobacco marketing and its role in shaping public perception. He transformed the cigarette's image, leading to widespread adoption among working-class men due to aggressive marketing tactics. Similarly, today's alternative tobacco products, including bidis and e-cigarettes, are often highlighted as being less harmful or helpful for quitting smoking, which is misleading.
Sweden's experience with 'snus,' a tobacco product distinct from cigarettes and bidis, shows a different cultural approach to tobacco use. However, like bidis and cigarettes, it sustains nicotine addiction, with associated health implications. Global efforts continue to regulate and restrict tobacco use to protect public health, with notable examples being bans on smoking in enclosed public spaces.