Tobacco consumption falls in almost the entire world, according to the WHO

The number of adults who consume tobacco has been falling constantly in recent years in the world, reported on Tuesday the World Health Organization (WHO)although he warned that the tobacco industry is struggling to reverse the trend.

In 2022, one in five adults worldwide were smokers or used other tobacco products, compared to one in three in 2000, the WHO said.

This report analyzes trends in smoking prevalence between 2000 and 2030 and revealed that 150 countries managed to reduce consumption.

Although the number of smokers is decreasing in most countries, the WHO warned that tobacco-related diseases may remain high for some years.

Furthermore, the tobacco industry is intensifying its efforts to undermine these advances, in particular by targeting new highly addictive products at minors, the WHO said.

“On a personal note, I think it is criminal,” Ruediger Krech, director of the WHO health promotion department, told the press in Geneva.

“They kill and continue to do everything they can to undermine excellent efforts” of the countries that show progress, he highlighted.

It is estimated that tobacco currently kills more than eight million people a year, including 1.3 million so-called passive smokers, exposed to secondhand smoke, according to the WHO.

“Countries that implement tough anti-tobacco controls can wait about 30 years until the prevalence rate is reversed (…) and a drop in the number of deaths from tobacco is seen,” the report states.

No time to trust

Although the number of smokers has fallen, the WHO said the world will not achieve its goal of reducing smoking. 30% in tobacco consumption between 2010 and 2025.

There are 56 countries that could reach the goal, including Brazil, which has already reduced tobacco use in 35% from 2010.

Meanwhile, six countries have recorded an increase in consumption since 2010: Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Moldova and Oman.

Overall, the world is on track to reduce tobacco consumption by a quarter by 2025, according to the document. However, the agency warned that the tobacco industry intends to reverse the progress.

“Progress has been made in tobacco control but there is no time to get complacent,” said Krech. “It amazes me how far the tobacco industry will go in pursuit of profits at the expense of many lives,” he claimed.

“We see that as soon as a government thinks it has won the fight against tobacco, tobacco industry “takes the opportunity to manipulate health policies and sell its lethal products,” he added.

The information suggests that the industry seeks to undermine countries’ efforts to discourage young people from using tobacco.