WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2008 |November 26
2008| In the 20th century, the tobacco epidemic killed 100
million people worldwide. During the 21st century, it could kill
one billion! Six effective tobacco control policies can counter
the epidemic. WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2008 is
the first in a series of WHO reports that will track the status
of the tobacco epidemic and the impact of interventions
implemented to stop it. Tobacco is the only legal consumer
product that can harm everyone exposed to it – and it kills up
to half of those who use it as intended. Yet, tobacco use is
common throughout the world due to low prices, aggressive and
widespread marketing, lack of awareness about its dangers, and
inconsistent public policies against its use. Most of tobacco’s
damage to health does not become evident until years or even
decades after the onset of use. So, while tobacco use is rising
globally, the epidemic of tobacco-related disease and death has
just begun. But we can change