Swiftly Ending Tobacco Epidemic Requires Government Action, Not Empty Promises

By Mark HurleyWASHINGTON DC, Oct 23 2019 (IPS) New information published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report shows that action taken by just 11 countries – most of them low- or middle-income – has resulted in 20 million fewer adult tobacco users in 2017 compared with 2008. Seventy percent of the world’s tobacco users live in low- and middle-income countries.

This promising progress is a testament to strong government action and its effects are far reaching. Between 2008 and 2017, over 53 million fewer adults were exposed to secondhand smoke in indoor public places like restaurants, government buildings and healthcare facilities.
Exposure to secondhand smoke can result in lung cancer, heart disease, asthma and bronchitis even in people who do not smoke.
Other promising findings in the study indicate that more than 12 million adult tobacco users in the countries studied were considering quitting because of graphic warning labels on tobacco products, and that close to 100 million fewer adults were exposed to tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorships.
The remarkable progress in reducing tobacco use shown in this study is a dramatic affirmation that evidence-based policies can and have protected millions of people from the deadly harms of tobacco use.
These policies – many of which are called for in the World Health Organization’s international health treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control – include eliminating tobacco advertising, promo...

Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - October 23, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Mark Hurley Tags: Development & Aid Editors' Choice Featured Global Global Governance Headlines Health Inequity IPS UN: Inside the Glasshouse Poverty & SDGs TerraViva United Nations Source Type: news