Every year, on the 31st of May, the WHO and partners everywhere 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 10% of adult deaths worldwide. (WHO website)
Have a loved one who needs to quit smoking? Read on!
The theme of this year’s World No Tobacco Day is “Raise taxes on tobacco.” Tobacco taxes are the most cost-effective way to reduce tobacco use, especially among young people and poor people. A tax increase that increases tobacco prices by 10% decreases tobacco consumption by about 4% in high-income countries and by up to 8% in most low- and middle-income countries. Sad to say that education alone about the dangers of sickness and death are not sufficient to deter people from smoking.
Why is that the case? As Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General Emeritus, World Health Organization 1998-2003 told the world, “A cigarette is the only consumer product which when used as directed kills its consumer.” Tobacco kills up to half of its users. Imagine that!
The answer to that question is Addiction. When we are addicted to something we have surrendered our free will, we become a slave to the addiction, we no longer have the will or the freedom to chose our own fate. Sad isn’t it? People do overcome this addition through interventions.
When a person is ready to quit smoking and they have the correct support to do so, even as far as undergoing hypnosis if necessary, the chances of success are good. There firstly has to be a mental shift in the person who says to themselves: “I will not be controlled by a chemical in my body!”
But on top of that there is the need to enhance core values that will leverage against the additive traits. Value your health is one thing, better value your family’s finances as another. The financial burden on the family budget to support the addition plus the added healthcare costs to deal with the frequent illnesses that can be avoided when we stop smoking can help make a strong self-argument to quit smoking.
Here are a few resources to help smokers
KICK THEIR HABIT:
- W.H.O. media Centre – Fact Sheets
- Guide to Quitting Smoking – Cancer.org
- The 23 Best Ways to Quit Smoking
- Quitting Day Steps – SmokeFree.gov
- Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking – CDC
Yours in real Health,
docMIKE
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