The World Health Organisation says the combination of betel nut and tobacco is heightening health risks as both substances contain cancer causing agents and are addictive.
A recent health meeting in Palau heard the rates of oral cancer in under 40-year-olds is escalating and there are reports of children as young as six chewing betel nut in some countries.
A Technical Officer at the World Health Organisation in Fiji, Dr Ada Moadsiri, spoke to Jenny Meyer about betel nut use in the Pacific region.
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Betel Nut, or Buai Photo: Banni Pulikottil CC BY 2.5
Ada Moadsiri says the WHO is working with Pacific government to identify policies and legislation to address public health concerns related to betel nut.