Betel nut chewing causes cancer

Amid the controversy surrounding betel nut chewing, a registered dental hygienist has warned the CNMI community against the continued cultural practice which can cause health problems from gum disease to oral cancer.

According to Linda J. Randall of the Seventh-day Adventist Dental Clinic, 9 out of 10 patients she treats have exhibited leukoplakia, an abnormal condition in the mouth caused by white patches, and submucous fibrosis or stiffness of the gum and mouth.

While no study has been done in the CNMI in connection with the effects of betel nut on the people’s health, Randall said she has seen a lot of health problems related to this practice through the years.

Speaking before members of the Food and Nutrition Council, Randall has expressed alarm on what she has observed an increasing number of children who chew betel nut with tobacco.

A 1997 survey on some 900 students on the island showed that 36 percent chew betel nuts with tobacco one or more times during the day. Forty-nine percent tried to chew betel nut before the age of 13.

Preventive measures should be implemented before it’s too late, she said. Be a good example, don’t chew betel nut and tobacco in front of children. After all, tobacco is illegal for people under the age of 18.

However, to carry out a campaign against the chewing of betel nut, she told Council members that they must be familiar with the effects of betel nut chewing.

“With the increasing number of minors who chew betel nut with tobacco, the Northern Marianas is in a lot of trouble,” she said, adding that she was concerned about the spread of oral cancer in the community.

“Our kids are increasingly at risk because of chewing betel nut with tobacco. If you want to control betel nut and tobacco addiction, you must educate them early. We should start today,” she said.

Unfortunately, Randall said chewing betel nut with tobacco is hard to break as people are not aware of the power of addiction. She noted that her patient who has oral cancer confessed that he still cannot quit.

This only shows that the younger you start chewing betel nut with tobacco, the higher the risk of addiction.

Randall was invited by the Council to explain to them the health risks associated with this cultural practice. She hopes that the information at hand will help the people in making choices for their own good.