Facts from the WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic
Offer help to quit tobacco use
Facts:
- It is difficult for the world’s more than 1 billion tobacco users to quit. However, most smokers want to quit when informed of the health risks.
- Although most who quit eventually do so without intervention, assistance greatly increases quit rates.
- Despite their lower population-wide impact, individual cessation interventions have a significant impact on individual health and are extremely cost-effective compared with many other health system activities.
- People who quit smoking, regardless of their age, smoking history or health status, experience immediate and profound health benefits and can reduce most of the associated risks within a few years of quitting.
- Tobacco dependence treatment can include various methods, but programmes should include: cessation advice incorporated into primary health-care services and easily accessible and free telephone quit lines.
Key finding:
- About 14% of the world's population lives in countries that offer comprehensive help to quit smoking with a national quit line and coverage for costs of both NRT and some cessation services.