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World No Tobacco Day

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Every year, on 31 May, the World Health Organization and partners around the globe mark World No Tobacco Day, highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death globally and is currently responsible for killing one in 10 adults worldwide. The chance that a lifelong smoker will die prematurely from a complication of smoking is approximately 50%.

Of the nearly 6 million people who die each year as a result of the global tobacco epidemic, more than 600 000 are non-smokers dying from breathing second-hand smoke. Unless we act, the epidemic will kill more than 8 million people every year by 2030.

Most smokers would to quit

70% of smokers say that they would like to quit. Some highly addicted smokers make serious attempts to quit but are able to stop for only a few hours. 80% who attempt to quit on their own return to smoking within a month. Each year only about 3% of smokers who make a quit attempt are able to quit successfully.
 
The ultimate goal of World No Tobacco Day is to contribute to protect present and future generations not only from these devastating health consequences, but also against the social, environmental and economic scourges of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke. Nicotine addiction is exceptionally difficult to overcome. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about medication specifically designed to give you a better chance. Start taking your life back, today.
 
References:
1.    World Health Organization. Tobacco Free Initiative: World No Tobacco Day. 
2.    Available from: the World Health Organisation
3.    Benowitz NL. Nicotine Addiction. N Engl J Med 2010 June 17;362(24):2295-2303
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