Global economic and health benefits of tobacco control: part 1

Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2009 Sep;86(3):263-71. doi: 10.1038/clpt.2009.93. Epub 2009 Jun 17.

Abstract

Although the risks of tobacco smoking have been known for decades, the pandemic of tobacco use continues. There are an estimated 1.3 billion smokers worldwide, along with millions more using various oral tobacco products. Recent global estimates place the mortality burden from tobacco use at over 6 million annually, with nearly two-thirds of these deaths occurring in developing countries. If current patterns persist, there will be an estimated 1 billion deaths from tobacco during the twenty-first century. Part 1 of this two-part paper provides an overview of the tobacco pandemic, the scope of the pandemic, and its economic and health consequences. Part 2 reviews the history of tobacco control to date and addresses the current global strategy, based on the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the MPOWER package of interventions. Part 2 ends with a consideration of scenarios for the future of the pandemic.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Developing Countries
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sex Factors
  • Smoking / economics
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / economics*
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / epidemiology
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / prevention & control*
  • Young Adult