29 Could 2025, Cairo, Egypt — On 31 Could the world will mark World No Tobacco Day 2025 beneath the banner “Shiny Merchandise. Darkish Intentions”. This 12 months’s theme sheds gentle on the tobacco trade’s ways to lure girls and younger folks into habit by flavored and colourful merchandise.
Tobacco use is the main explanation for preventable dying globally, with the World Well being Group (WHO) Japanese Mediterranean Area bearing a big burden. The Area has the best smoking charges amongst adolescent boys, with international locations like Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt rating among the many highest globally. The promotion of latest nicotine merchandise, resembling e-cigarettes and heated tobacco merchandise, has led to larger dependency charges amongst weak teams.
Globally, 37 million kids aged 13–15 years use tobacco. Within the Japanese Mediterranean Area smoking charges in some areas have reached 43% amongst adolescent boys (aged 13–15 years) and 20% amongst adolescent women. The best prevalence of tobacco use amongst boys is recorded within the occupied Palestinian territory (West Financial institution) at 43.3%, adopted by Jordan at 33.9% and the Syrian Arab Republic at 31.6%.
The tobacco trade’s promotion of latest nicotine merchandise, resembling e-cigarettes and heated tobacco merchandise, is especially regarding. These merchandise usually characteristic flavors and colourful designs that appeal to girls and younger folks, resulting in larger dependency charges. With over 16 000 flavors of e-cigarettes accessible, it is no shock that in some international locations 9 out of 10 e-cigarette customers are drawn to the flavored merchandise that concentrate on youthful customers.
Alarmingly, the hole in tobacco use between women and men is narrowing, with extra girls and women taking on smoking, exposing them to well being dangers resembling cervical most cancers, osteoporosis and fertility points. In the meantime, the Area already has the best smoking charges amongst adolescent boys, underscoring the pressing want for motion.
“Our Area has the best youth smoking charges on the planet. We should act to guard the subsequent era. Allow us to stand collectively and make it crystal clear. No extra tips. No extra traps. Let’s unite for a tobacco-free future.” says WHO Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy.
In response to the alarming rise in tobacco use amongst girls and adolescents, the Regional Workplace for the Japanese Mediterranean has launched a focused initiative. This initiative acknowledges that ladies and adolescents share widespread vulnerabilities, together with socioeconomic elements and well being care wants that make them inclined to the trade’s ways.
Governments, stakeholders and communities should work collectively to:
ban tobacco product flavors and enticing designs;
implement graphic well being warnings on packaging;
prohibit promoting and promotion; and
enhance taxes on tobacco merchandise.
“We have to work with all stakeholders, led by governments, to restrict/ban using flavours and enticing vibrant designs, particularly for rising merchandise together with, however not restricted to, e-cigarettes and vapes. Allow us to unite for a tobacco-free future. We owe it to our youngsters, our communities and our future generations to take daring motion towards the tobacco trade’s ways, Dr Balkhy says.
On World No Tobacco Day 2025, let’s increase consciousness in regards to the tobacco trade’s darkish intentions and work in the direction of a tobacco-free future. Collectively, we are able to make a distinction and defend the well being and well-being of our communities.
Let’s unfold the phrase and unite for a tobacco-free future!
Associated hyperlink
