Winning the War Against Tobacco: A Multifaceted Battle

The fight to reduce smoked tobacco consumption has been going on for at least two decades, but the war is still not seen as won. Since its instability is one of the most preventable causes of diseases and death worldwide, the response of the governments, the public health organisations and the civil society must be radical and all-embracing. Tobacco control report is a multidimensional response system including a variety of methods and programs for modifying the destructive effect of smoking on people and society.

One of the pillars of tobacco control strategies is the responsible creation of awareness and support for education on prevention by governments and other stakeholders. Through their movements, these campaigns aim to pass on accurate information on health risks related to tobacco use at different levels, such as various types of cancers, cardiac diseases, respiratory illnesses, and other life-threatening health conditions that can stop new children from beginning to use tobacco. Moreover, introducing the audience to understanding why tobacco products are extremely addictive and have various harmful chemicals can push present users to consider both cessation and seeking help in quitting.

Tobacco taxation and pricing policies appear among the most powerful measures to bring a decrease in smoking consumption, especially among those who are highly sensitive to costs. With the high rates of excise tax imposed on tobacco products by the government, these become pricey, thus people find them to be a less affordable option for others and it eventually communicates to the intended users a discouraging message by making them think twice before taking up the habit. The double benefit from cigarette taxation is that the income from it can be reflected positively by being invested in programs on tobacco control, the healthcare services sector and public education campaigns, thus creating a positive cycle of increasing public health.

As an indispensable aspect of tobacco control measures, a smoke-free environment adoption helps protect non-smokers from the risks attributed to secondhand smoke exposure even in public domains like parks and workstations. The complete prohibition of smoking inside public spaces, workplaces and all enclosed premises contributes to a healthier and more supportive setting conducive to smoking cessation by either committed quitter or light users. This indirectly helps in curbing the total smoking of people by creating an environment which discourages smoking and keeps people away from direct access to smoking triggers.

Implementation of tight restrictions on tobacco advertisements, promotions, and sponsorships is paramount to fighting back against the mass spread and predatory marketing of the tobacco industry. This strain of marketing usually aims at market segments which are deemed to be susceptible and undermines the quality of youth and low-income populations by exploiting their desire to fit into a certain social group and emulating people whom they look up to. Strict regulation over advertising and promotion of tobacco products will have a decisive impact on the rate of smoking prevalence, especially in the youth population that suffers from image distortion and inadequate role models.

The provision of cheap, comfortable cessation services and programs for those who are ready to quit cigarettes and for the ones who are ready to quit using tobacco products is one of the most necessary services. The services may be of different kinds, and they may include a variety of interventions, such as counselling, nicotine substitutive remedies, medications and own-rhythm behavioural changes customised for each patient. By offering more services such as counselling and low-cost clinics, the government can equip smokers in two ways, first, it can assist smokers to prevent further addiction and secondly, it can ameliorate the economic burden associated with tobacco-related illnesses in public health.

Though a lot of work has been done towards it, the obstacles in tobacco control are still the major issue. The tobacco industry remains a skilled decorator who works hard to discourage recognition and enforcement of antismoking measures, creating tobacco products as an emerging party. Moreover, seeing that the socio-economic causative factors underlying tobacco consumption, with much emphasis on low- and middle-income countries, remains a serious problem.

To beat tobacco in the world we have to make a firm decision to do so and work with multiple approaches. By bringing the combined efforts, data-driven policies, and a promise to dollar every effort for safeguarding our public's health and above the tobacco use challenge is likely to be an achievable goal as the foundation of our healthy future will be a smoke-free one.