The worldwide smoking epidemic: tobacco trade, use, and control

Article Abstract:

Worldwide tobacco use has increased by almost 75 percent during the past 20 years. A report is provided on tobacco trading, smoking prevalence, and lung cancer mortality. The international tobacco trade contributes to the smoking epidemic in several ways, including pressure by the United States to open new foreign markets by more favorable trade agreements or lower tariffs. In countries where tobacco conglomerates are owned by the government, legislative action to regulate tobacco consumption is not forthcoming. Exportation of cigarettes by the US is increasing, aided by marketing strategies such as low prices and aggressive advertising. Four of the six multinational tobacco conglomerates are US-based. The tobacco industry ignores warnings by health and land-use agencies as it continues to promote tobacco as an excellent cash crop; 63 percent of tobacco production is in developing or newly developed countries. Statistics regarding the worldwide tobacco leaf trade are provided. Worldwide cigarette production has increased steadily since 1970, with a major increase (10 percent) in China from 1986 to 1987. Production decreased in the US in the early 1980s as a result of antismoking efforts, then increased between 1986 and 1988, in response to increased exports. More people are smoking in developing countries, while smoking prevalence is declining in developed lands. Improved economies generally coincide with smoking increases, especially among women and adolescents, a trend that subsequently gives way to antismoking efforts and less consumption. Changes in lung cancer mortality occur 20 years after smoking trends change. Worldwide, this disease is on the increase. For instance, in Japan deaths from lung cancer increased from 2.7 per 100,000 in 1950, to 20.2 per 100,000 in 1979. Such increases are the direct result of increased cigarette consumption. The Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Medical Association (AMA) recommends that the AMA take several steps to curb cigarette consumption, including urging the US government to change trade practices that promote the epidemic, encourage labeling of tobacco products, and working with the World Health Organization to reduce tobacco use. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Economic aspects, Patient outcomes, Mortality, Causes of, Statistics, Political aspects, Tobacco, Lung cancer, Cigarettes

---

Cigarette smoking - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 1988

Article Abstract:

A sample of the prevalence of cigarette smoking was taken and the relationship between smoking and both age and level of education was examined. The data was taken from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Persons who had ever smoked, former smokers, and current smokers were subdivided and assessed within the 18- to 34-year-old age group. A wide geographic distribution was recorded among smokers and revealed the following median percentages (half of the population in a geographic region was the median figure and half was below; the 50 state medians were averaged): 41.1 have smoked, 15.1 former smokers, and 26.2 current smokers. The highest rate of current smokers was found in Kentucky (37.9 percent), and the lowest incidence of cigarette smoking (18.1 percent) occurred in Utah. Generational differences were also observed and individuals were grouped as follows: 18 to 34, 35 to 54, and over 55 years old. In general, the likelihood that an individual smoked cigarettes increased with age. Conversely, in the middle-aged to older groups, the prevalence of smoking was reduced with higher educational levels. Among younger individuals, the incidence of smoking decreased only when accompanied by education beyond the high school level. In an editorial notation by the Centers for Disease Control, it was observed that the new high risk group was young adults who had low levels of education; this also correlated with lower socio-economic status. This indicates that current smoking prevention campaigns have not been effective in this age group despite the fact that it has been targeted for such programs. These results suggest that anti-smoking programs need to be directed to a younger age group of children and adolescents.

Research, Surveys, Risk factors (Health)

---

Cigarette smoking among adults - United States, 1993

Article Abstract:

Smoking prevalence appears to have remained the same from 1992 to 1993. Smoking prevalence among adults declined from 42.4% in 1965 to 25.5% in 1990. However, the prevalence remained the same between 1990 and 1992. A 1993 random sample of adults aged 18 and older indicated that approximately 25% of all Americans smoke. Almost 28% of men were smokers compared with 22.5% of women. American Indians Alaskan Natives had the highest group-specific prevalence of smoking at 38.7%. Asians Pacific Islanders had the lowest group-specific prevalence at 18.2%. Almost 70% of current smokers indicated they wanted to quit smoking. However, 72.7% of women reported wanting to quit smoking compared with 67.1% of men. Those who were 65 years old or older were least likely to indicate they wanted to stop smoking.

Smokers

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Heparin therapy during pregnancy; risks to the fetus and mother. Detection of previous proximal venous thrombosis with Doppler ultrasonography and photoplethysmography
• Abstracts: Postdelivery head bleeding in hemophilic neonates: causes and management. Pregnancies in human immunodeficiency virus-infected sex partners of hemophilic men
• Abstracts: Transmission of chickenpox in a school setting prior to the observed exanthem. Clinical manifestations of varicella-zoster virus infections in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children
• Abstracts: Efficacy of statewide neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis by assay of trypsinogen concentrations. Screening for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2a with DNA-polymorphism analysis
• Abstracts: Neutropenic enterocolitis: clinical diagnosis and treatment. Cisplatin-associated hemolytic-uremic syndrome: successful treatment with a staphylococcal protein A column

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.