For Sunder Lal, a 32-year-old auto driver who consumes 10-15 packets of gutka every day, the ban has come as a shocker. He says it is hard to kick the habit and he may have to fall back on products sold by black marketeers for a higher price. If that option is not available, he'd turn to cigarettes to satisfy the craving – a possibility feared by health experts.

Psychiatrists say intensive awareness campaigns, free counselling and medication must be provided to help addicts deal with withdrawal symptoms.

"When a person gives up on gutka, he experiences symptoms like intense craving, restlessness, sleeplessness and irritability. In the absence of counselling or treatment, they go back to chewing gutka or switch to alternatives like bidis, cigarettes or paan masalas," said Dr Sonali Jhaanjee, associate professor at the National Drug Dependence Centre run by AIIMS.

She said Nicotine Replacement Therapy is used to wean the person away from tobacco. In this, the patient is given nicotine chewing gums for a maximum of six months.

Activists say the lack of tobacco cessation clinics poses a huge problem. "There are less than two dozen such clinics in India. Poor people cannot afford private practitioners. So, the government must also look at upgrading the infrastructure," said an activist.

Dr Vinod Raina, senior oncologist at AIIMS, said tobacco consumption is responsible for almost 40% cancer cases in the country.

"Quitting gutka requires determination. We come across so many patients who quit it the moment they or anyone in their family is diagnosed with cancer," he said. Dr Harit Chaturvedi, an oncologist at Max Hospital, Saket, said cigarettes and paan masalas should also be banned.

Delhi government's health secretary Anshu Prakash said the government is determined to end gutka use in the city.

"Banning the sale and manufacturing of such products is only the first step. Soon, we will launch a campaign to create awareness about their health effects," he said. Delhi has become the 13th state to ban the sale and manufacturing of gutka products.

It is estimated that 10 million people in Delhi, including many youngsters, consume gutka.

Dr Nand Kumar, clinical psychiatrist at AIIMS, said society has an important role to play in helping an addict quit gutka.