Lives are lost to smoking every day. Yet, the tobacco epidemic rarely earns widespread attention—particularly amidst more acute crises like COVID-19.
On World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) we strive to reinvigorate the fight against smoking, and to stress the uniquely devastating effects of tobacco on global health.
Launched in 1988 under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO), WNTD aims to achieve two goals: support smokers in their efforts to quit and prevent youth from picking up the habit. Over the years, there have been various initiatives toward these ends. Schools ran poster competitions; cities and NGOs organized marches in favor of smoke-free laws; and universities hosted seminars to accelerate implementation of effective policies. Many of these initiatives yielded laudable change. Yet, somewhere along the way, anti-smoking efforts lost sight of a key constituency they purport to help: smokers.
During the first WNTD, I contributed to a special edition of the South African Medical Journal devoted exclusively to smoking—its human impact, the need for effective laws, and the value of quitting. In time, that work led to increased taxes and tougher legislation that has saved countless lives. Yet, in recent years, I have observed an increased focus on policy issues, rather than the needs of smokers. This shift is evident in the theme of this year’s WNTD, “protecting youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use.” This goal is vital and must be addressed. Reducing tobacco uptake among youth will yield tremendous public health gains for future generations. Yet, in our attempt to minimize the smokers of tomorrow we cannot overlook the smokers of today.
Derek Yach – Foundation For a Smoke-Free World – May 29, 2020.
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