8 Million Deaths Annually from Tobacco Use – Stay Safe with InfoCons Consumer Protection
May 31st marks World No Tobacco Day, a global initiative aimed at raising awareness about the widespread use of tobacco and its harmful effects on people worldwide.
To mark this occasion, InfoCons is highlighting its ongoing educational and awareness campaigns on the topic, including the initiative titled “Stop the Use of All Smoking Products.”
This campaign aligns with European best practices and advocates for a complete ban on tobacco use in all legally designated areas.
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The theme of this year’s World No Tobacco Day is “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products”. The campaign aims to shed light on the deceptive strategies used by the tobacco and nicotine industries to make their harmful products attractive—especially to young people. By bringing these tactics to the forefront, the World Health Organization (WHO) seeks to raise awareness, push for stronger regulations—including a ban on flavorings that increase product appeal—and ultimately safeguard public health.
Tobacco Use: Key Statistics and Global Trends
Despite some progress, tobacco remains one of the world’s most serious public health threats:
- 1.25 billion adults worldwide used tobacco in 2022, down from 1.3 billion in 2005.
- Only 56 countries are on track to achieve the global target of a 30% reduction in tobacco use by 2025.
In the WHO European Region: 179 million people used tobacco products in 2022, 114 million men and 65 million women
In Romania: 27.5% of adults are tobacco users, 37.4% of men and 17.5% of women
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Health Impact of Tobacco Use
- Tobacco use causes over 8 million deaths annually worldwide.
- In the WHO European Region alone, 1.1 million people die each year due to tobacco use: of these, 153,000 deaths result from second-hand smoke exposure.
In Romania:
- Approximately 29,500 deaths per year are linked to tobacco use.
- Tobacco-related deaths account for 8.8% of all fatalities, disproportionately affecting men.
- The economic cost of tobacco use—including healthcare expenses and productivity losses—exceeds 24 billion RON annually.
Youth and Tobacco: A Growing Concern
Tobacco companies are increasingly targeting young people with flavored and novel nicotine products.
Globally: Over 37 million youth aged 13–15 currently use tobacco.
In the WHO European Region: Around 4 million adolescents are tobacco users.
In Romania:
- 7.6% of children aged 10–14 use tobacco products.
- Among youth aged 13–15: 11.1% of boys and 7.2% of girls are tobacco users.
Early exposure significantly increases the risk of long-term addiction and chronic health problems.
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The Global InfoCons App
To help raise awareness about the impact of tobacco on individual health, as consumers, the Global InfoCons App offers an SOS section through which users can contact local authorities responsible for enforcing tobacco regulations, in case they witness violations of smoking bans in enclosed spaces.
In addition, the Global InfoCons App provides users with alerts on dangerous and non-compliant products, including electronic cigarettes and related products, helping to prevent incidents and raise awareness among consumers. The information is presented in a structured format, ensuring immediate and direct access.
Source : World Health Organisation
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