World No Tobacco Day, May 31, 2000

Statement by Dr. George A. O. Alleyne, Director,
Pan American Health Organization

Last year on World No Tobacco Day, the Pan American Health Organization encouraged smokers to quit smoking. This year, PAHO is still asking smokers to "Quit the Dependency," but the message is broader than that. Tobacco use doesn't just hurt smokers -- it imposes health and economic costs on individuals, families, and society. So, we are sending the message that, collectively, we need to "Quit the Dependency: Tobacco Costs Too Much."

This year's theme is inspired by the compelling new report of the World Bank, Curbing the Epidemic: Governments and the Economics of Tobacco Control. The report concludes that tobacco use imposes costs on society, that policies aimed at reducing demand for tobacco products are cost-effective, and that these policies do not harm the economy.

What are the costs of tobacco use? First and foremost, tobacco costs individuals their health. Long-term smokers have a 50-50 chance of dying from a tobacco-related disease. Half of these deaths will occur before age 70. Tobacco use deprives families of their parents, siblings, and children. Every year in the Region of the Americas, 625,000 individuals lose their lives because of tobacco use.

Smoking also costs non-smokers. Exposure to second-hand smoke, or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), causes numerous health problems. Children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable. Children exposed to ETS are at increased risk of asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, and ear infections. Exposure of pregnant women and newborns to ETS can cause premature birth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and slower development of the baby. ETS also increases the risk of lung cancer and heart disease in adults.

Finally, tobacco use costs the economy. While smokers are alive, their health care costs are greater than those of non-smokers. Many smokers die at their most productive time of life, depriving the economy of a productive work force, and depriving families of income. Smokers get sick more often than non-smokers, at a cost to employers.

It is easy to understand what it means for smokers to quit. But what does it mean for society to quit the dependency on tobacco? PAHO believes that it means we all need to take responsibility for the problem of tobacco use. This is why PAHO places a priority on efforts to reduce tobacco use.

On the part of governments, it means addressing tobacco use in a serious manner by implementing measures to reduce tobacco use, and by investing adequate resources in prevention and cessation of tobacco use.

Fortunately, there is a great deal of knowledge about what works, so that governments can be confident that their investments will pay off. The World Bank concludes that policy measures¾ such as tobacco taxes, health messages on tobacco packages, restrictions on tobacco promotion, restrictions on smoking, and smuggling controls¾ work. The impact of policies is strengthened by support for smokers who want to quit, public information campaigns, and support for nongovernmental and community organizations working to reduce tobacco use. Governments should implement surveillance and evaluation systems to measure progress, and should support transitional measures to assist tobacco growers in developing alternative livelihoods.

Governments need not fear the impact of these measures on the economy. Tobacco control has either a neutral or a positive effect on the economy, as well as its improvements to health.

On the part of civil society, quitting the dependency means recognizing the importance of tobacco use as public health issue, and investing resources accordingly in education, research, and advocacy. It means supporting actions by governments and others that are aimed at reducing tobacco use.

It is not easy for smokers to quit smoking. And it will not be easy for societies to quit the dependency on tobacco that has been encouraged for so long. But it must be done. PAHO looks forward to leading the fight in the Americas in this important battle, with the help of governments, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals. Let's all work together to quit the dependency on tobacco.