The WHO says that tobacco use will drop 25% by 2025
Tobacco use is predicted to kill over 8 million people every year, 1.3 million of whom aren’t smokers but are exposed to it second-hand.
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Today, there are an estimated 1.25 billion adult tobacco users, according to the latest estimates in the World Health Organization (WHO) tobacco trends report released this week. Tobacco use is predicted to kill over 8 million people every year, 1.3 million of whom aren’t smokers but are exposed to it second-hand.
With this in the backdrop, in May 2013, the World Health Assembly set a lofty target: slash tobacco use by 30% among people over 15 by 2025. As this date approaches, though, it begs the question – where are we now in this ongoing fight against tobacco?
Well, according to the WHO’s report, the number of adult tobacco users is steadily dropping. “Globally we are getting closer to the global voluntary target of a 30% relative reduction in current tobacco use by 2025 … Already by 2022, the projected relative reduction is 24.9%,” the report writes, which also says that this decline is because of measures such as taxes and regulation.
But even though this is the case, the industry isn’t backing down. In fact, according to the report, it’s increasing the amount of influence it's trying to have in markets to ensure that tobacco use doesn’t drop, such as trying to hook children. “I’m astounded at the depths the tobacco industry will go to pursue profits at the expense of countless lives,” says Dr. Ruediger Krech, Director of the WHO Department of Health Promotion.
The progress also isn’t even. About 56 nations globally are anticipated to achieve the target, with Brazil leading the charge by cutting tobacco by 35% since 2010. But six countries – the Republic of Congo, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Moldova and Oman – have seen an increase in tobacco consumption since 2010. On top of this, more than 70 countries don't provide any data, meaning the report’s numbers are likely an underestimation.
With that said, the progress needs to be celebrated. “Good progress has been made in tobacco control in recent years,” says Dr. Krech. As the world moves toward slashing tobacco use by 25% in 2025, he also stressed that it’s no time to get complacent.
To protect future generations and make sure that tobacco use stays on the decline, the WHO will dedicate this year’s World No Tobacco Day on May 31 to “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference.”
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