- By Prerna Targhotra
- Wed, 31 May 2023 10:21 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The special occasion of World No Tobacco Day is observed every year across the globe to raise awareness regarding the harmful effects of tobacco, which is a leading cause of death worldwide. It is an annual event which serves the opportunity to raise awareness of the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use.
The World Health Organisation estimates that tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year. More than 7 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use while around 1.2 million are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke. Over 80% of the world's 1.3 billion tobacco users live in low- and middle-income countries.
World No Tobacco Day 2023: History
In 1987, the World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the 40th anniversary of WHO, April 7, 1988, as World No Tobacco Day. The objective of this day was to encourage people worldwide who smoke or chew tobacco to quit for at least 24 hours. The second World No-Tobacco Day, held May 31, 1989, emphasised the theme “Women and Tobacco - The Female Smoker: At Added Risk.”
World No Tobacco Day 2023: Significance
With millions of people worldwide consuming tobacco, it is crucial to spread knowledge and awareness about the negative impacts of tobacco use. WHO states that the tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, killing more than 8 million people a year, including around 1.2 million deaths from exposure to second-hand smoke. Cigarette smoking is the most common form of tobacco use worldwide. Other tobacco products include waterpipe tobacco, various smokeless tobacco products, cigars, cigarillos, roll-your-own tobacco, pipe tobacco, bidis and kreteks.
World No Tobacco Day 2023: Facts About Tobacco Use
1. WHO estimates that over 80% of the 1.3 billion tobacco users worldwide live in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of tobacco-related illness and death is heaviest. Tobacco use contributes to poverty by diverting household spending from basic needs such as food and shelter to tobacco.
2. E-cigarettes are particularly risky when used by children and adolescents. Nicotine is highly addictive and young people’s brains develop up to their mid-twenties.
3. Smoking costs the United States hundreds of billions of dollars each year.
4. Each day, about 1,600 youth try their first cigarette. Many adult cigarette smokers want to quit smoking.
5. States do not spend much of the money they get from tobacco taxes and lawsuits to prevent smoking and help smokers quit. CDC recommends that states spend 12% of those funds on tobacco control.