By Dr. Joseph D. Lim
There is still hope that the world will overcome this addiction. Over a quarter of the world’s population living in 74 countries are protected by comprehensive national smoke-free laws.
Among smokers who are aware of the dangers of tobacco, most want to quit. Counselling and medication can more than double a tobacco user’s chance of successful quitting.
Hard-hitting anti-tobacco mass media campaigns and pictorial health warnings prevent children and other vulnerable groups from taking up tobacco use, and increase the number of tobacco users who quit.
Over half the world’s population live in the 103 countries, including the Philippines, that meet best practice for graphic health warnings, which includes among other criteria, large (50 percent or more of the main areas of the package) pictorial health warnings displayed in the local language.
Around 1.5 billion people live in the 36 countries that have aired at least one strong anti-tobacco mass media campaign within the last two years.
Tobacco advertising promotion and sponsorship increases and sustains tobacco use by effectively recruiting new tobacco users and discouraging tobacco users from quitting.
One-third of countries, representing a quarter of the world’s population, have completely banned all forms of tobacco advertising promotion and sponsorship.
Taxes are effective in reducing tobacco use.
Tobacco taxes are the most cost-effective way to reduce tobacco use, especially among youth and low-income groups. A tax increase that increases tobacco prices by 10 percent decreases tobacco consumption by about four percent in high-income countries and about five percent in low- and middle-income countries.
Even so, high tobacco taxes are rarely implemented. Only 41 countries, with 12 percent of the world’s population, have introduced taxes on tobacco products so that at least 75 percent of the retail price is tax.
Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are tobacco products that produce aerosols containing nicotine and toxic chemicals upon heating of the tobacco, or activation of a device containing the tobacco. They contain the highly addictive substance nicotine, non-tobacco additives and are often flavored.
Despite claims of “risk reduction,” there is no evidence to demonstrate that HTPs are less harmful than conventional tobacco products. Many toxicants found in tobacco smoke are at significantly lower levels in HTP aerosol but HTP aerosol contains other toxicants found sometimes at higher levels than in tobacco smoke, such as glycidol, pyridine, dimethyl trisulfide, acetoin, and methylglyoxal.
Further, some toxicants found in HTP aerosols are not found in conventional cigarette smoke and may have associated health effects. Additionally, these products are highly variable and some of the toxicants found in the emissions of these products are carcinogens.
Electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) are the most common form of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNDS) but there are others, such as e-cigars and e-pipes. ENDS contain varying amounts of nicotine and harmful emissions.
Use of ENDS/ENNDS products is colloquially referred to as “vaping.” However, it does not mean that they are harmless or emit water vapor.
E-cigarette emissions typically contain nicotine and other toxic substances that are harmful to users and non-users who are exposed to the second-hand aerosols. Some products claiming to be nicotine-free have been found to contain nicotine.
“Evidence reveals that these products are harmful to health and are not safe,” the World Health Organization (WHO) says.
It is too early to provide a clear answer on the long-term impacts of using them or being exposed to them. Some recent studies suggest that ENDS use can increase the risk of heart disease and lung disorders. Nicotine exposure in pregnant women can have negative health consequences on the fetus. And nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance, is damaging for brain development.
“There is a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry’s interests and public health policy interests,” the WHO declares. “The tobacco industry produces and promotes a product that has been proven scientifically to be addictive, to cause disease and death and to give rise to a variety of social ills, including increased poverty.”
“The tobacco industry is fighting to ensure the dangers of their products are concealed, but we are fighting back,” the WHO warns.
WHO has introduced practical, cost-effective initiatives. They are:
* Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies
* Protect people from tobacco use
* Offer help to quit tobacco use
* Warn about the dangers of tobacco
* Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
* Raise taxes on tobacco.
May 31 is World No Tobacco Day. Quit smoking. Now.
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim, Ed. D., is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology; and Founding Chairman of the Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
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Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines, College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De La Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate Professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; and Fellow, Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com./WDJ