According to the latest report by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the use of tobacco published on Monday, which analyzes smoking trends between 2010 and 2024 and concludes that the epidemic is far from finishing.
The use of tobacco has fallen from 26.2 percent in 2010 to 19.5 percent last year, and the UN Health Agency predicts that the numbers will continue to decrease.
Who Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recognized the progress made, but issued a warning about new industry products designed to keep consumers hooked.
“Millions of people are stopping, or not taking, tobacco consumption thanks to tobacco control efforts by countries around the world,” he said.
“In response to this strong progress, The tobacco industry is struggling with new nicotine products, aggressively pointing to young people. Governments must act faster and stronger in the implementation of proven tobacco control policies. “
Electronic teenagers and cigarettes
The report includes the first global estimate of the use of electronic cigarettes for adults and young people.
The numbers are alarming: more than 100 million people worldwide are now vaping, including 86 million adults and at least 15 million adolescents from 13 to 15 years.
The prevalence of the use of electronic cigarettes among adolescents is on average nine times that those of adultsBy country. Who is asking governments to close those gaps that allow the industry to point to the next generation and regulate electronic cigarettes and other nicotine products.
“Electronic cigarettes are feeding a new wave of nicotine addiction“Said Etienne Krug, director of the Department of Social Determinants of Health.
In total, 10 percent of adolescents worldwide reported having used one or more types of tobacco products.
Trends vary between genres, regions
In Southeast Asia, once the world’s largest regional access point, tobacco consumption among men almost reduces by half, from 70 percent in 2000 to 37 % last year. That region alone represented more than half of the global decline.
In 2024, Europeans represented the largest number of smokers, followed by the Western Pacific, while the lowest prevalence of tobacco consumption was in Africa.
Projections up to 2030 a decrease in the use of tobacco worldwide, but governments must do their part to intensify tobacco control, who advises.
“Almost 20 percent of adults still use tobacco and nicotine products. We can’t yield now“Said Jeremy Farrar, deputy director general for health promotion.
