This is according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Latest report on tobacco use published Monday which analyzes smoking trends from 2010 to 2024 and concludes that the epidemic is far from over.
Tobacco use fell from 26.2% in 2010 to 19.5% last year – and the UN health agency predicts the numbers will continue to fall.
Chief Tedros Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged the progress made, but issued a warning about the industry’s new products designed to keep consumers hooked.
“Millions of people are quitting or not using tobacco thanks to tobacco control efforts by countries around the world,” he said.
“In response to this strong progress, The tobacco industry is battling with new nicotine products, aggressively targeting young people. Governments must act faster and stronger in implementing proven tobacco control policies. “
Adolescents and electronic cigarettes
The report includes the first global estimate of e-cigarette use for adults and youth.
The numbers are alarming: more than 100 million people worldwide now vape, including 86 million adults and at least 15 million adolescents aged 13 to 15.
The prevalence of electronic cigarette use among adolescents is on average Nine times that of adultsby country. Which calls on governments to close these loopholes that allow the industry to target the next generation and regulate e-cigarettes and other nicotine products.
“E-cigarettes are fueling a new wave of nicotine addiction“, said Etienne Krug, director of the Department of Social Determinants of Health. “They are marketed as harm reduction, but, in reality, hook children to nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of progress. »
In total, 10% of adolescents worldwide reported using one or more types of tobacco products.
Trends vary between genders, regions
In Southeast Asia, once the world’s largest regional hotspot, tobacco use among men has almost halved – from 70% in 2000 to 37% last year. This region alone accounts for more than half of the global decline.
In 2024, Europeans accounted for the largest number of smokers, followed by the Western Pacific, while the lowest prevalence of tobacco use was in Africa.
Projections through 2030 predict a decline in tobacco use worldwide, but governments must do their part to step up tobacco control, which advises.
“Nearly 20% of adults still use tobacco and nicotine products. We can’t let up now“, said Jeremy Farrar, who is deputy director general for health promotion.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
