The World Health Organization (WHO) reveals a positive trend in the global fight against tobacco use. According to the latest tobacco trends report, adult tobacco users are decreasing worldwide. Dr. Ruediger Krech, WHO’s Health Promotion Director, emphasizes the importance of sustained tobacco control policies and the ongoing battle against industry interference. Notably, lower to middle-income countries are witnessing the most significant decline in tobacco consumption.
The WHO report discloses that out of 1.25 billion adult tobacco users globally, one in five adults currently consumes tobacco, marking a decline from one in three in 2000. Encouragingly, 150 countries have successfully reduced tobacco use, with Brazil and the Netherlands achieving substantial progress through MPOWER tobacco control measures.
Despite these achievements, Dr. Krech warns against complacency, highlighting the tobacco industry’s persistent pursuit of profits at the expense of lives. The report underscores the need for countries to intensify efforts in implementing tobacco control policies and resisting industry interference.
Concerns arise as the WHO South-East Asian Region leads in tobacco prevalence at 26.5%, with the European Region close behind at 25.3%. The projection for the WHO European Region to have the highest global rates by 2030 raises alarms, especially with tobacco use among women in the region remaining disproportionately high.
While global tobacco use is expected to achieve a 25% reduction by 2025, falling short of the voluntary 30% goal, WHO urges nations to accelerate tobacco control measures. The Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2023 reveals a deterioration in efforts to protect health policies from industry interference, emphasizing the urgency for action.
World No Tobacco Day 2024 will focus on protecting children from tobacco industry interference, addressing the concerning use of tobacco and nicotine products among 13–15-year-olds. The upcoming 10th Session of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Conference of Parties in Panama is crucial, as countries face attempts by the tobacco industry to influence global health policies.
