Informed but Smoking
Published on December 18, 2009 9:18 AM
Te World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that if urgent action will not be taken then by 2030 will be more than eight million deaths a year caused by smoking tobacco, with 80 percent of them occurring especially in developing countries.
Unfortunately many people and governments in these countries are not yet quite aware of the dangers and lack the resources to counter inexorable marketing by the industry. If not prevented, there will be an appealing future increase in tobacco-related disease, disability and death.
A lot of studies found and then concluded that tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death. For example in Ireland, more than 6,000 people die every year from tobacco- related diseases. Some 30 percent of all cancers, including 90 percent of lung cancers, are caused by smoking too.
In general all people know that tobacco is a harmful product, all know that eight out of 10 Irish smokers start in their teenage years, and all are informed that once addicted by the drug nicotine, then it is very hard to quit. However a lot of people continue to smoke and every year the smokers’ rate raise.
Researchers found that if minors don’t start smoking in their teenage years, they are far more likely to possess a healthy life free of tobacco addiction. Almost all tobacco advertising and display has been removed from shops and supermarkets in a lot of countries. Researchers consider that this step is a most welcome development and its effect will be seen soon.
Unfortunately one-third of retailers and licensed vending machine operators are still prepared to sell tobacco to minors. While there has been a firm amelioration over the past three years, this is still not pleasant.
The smokers’ rates depend of the anti-tobacco legislations which were approved by the Government. For example Canada, which has had a focused goal-driven tobacco control policy for many years, is now reporting smoking prevalence rates of 18 percent and falling. Evidently, Irish Government has much work to do for to decrease the smoking among its inhabitants.
Researchers explained that quitting smoking saves lives and has direct and long-term benefits including better health, reduced risk of coronary heart disease, cancers and improved lung function.
It is very hard to understand why 50 teenagers starting smoking every day in Ireland, if smoking was also banned. Researchers declared that is time to revisit and reinvigorate the national tobacco control policy by implementing new anti-smoking policies.
