<b>Betel Quid Dependence in Rural Adults: Bangladesh Context</b>

Betel quid is commonly used in South-East Asia, and its dependence has been identified as a global public health problem because to its negative health consequences. The areca nut in betel quid is the world's fourth most psychoactive drug and a recognized cause of oral cavity and esophageal malignancies, and when coupled with smokeless tobacco, pharyngeal cancer. The study's goal was to assess dependence among betel quid users and identify relevant characteristics. A pre-tested interview questionnaire, comprising the Betel Quid Dependency Scale (BQDS), was utilized to assess user dependency and identify relevant variables. In this study, betel quid users who used tobacco additives were much more likely to develop dependency. Betel quid dependency was also linked to gender, education level, frequency of daily betel quid usage, and length of use. Betel quid chewing is a lifestyle habit that can be difficult to break, thus designing behavior change motivational programs can help individuals quit.