Tobacco

Key facts on tobacco Tobacco kills up to half of its users. Tobacco kills nearly six million people each year, of whom more than 5 million are users and ex users and more than 600 000 are nonsmokers exposed to second-hand smoke. Unless urgent action is taken, the annual death toll could rise to more than eight million by 2030. Nearly 80% of the world's one billion smokers live in low- and middle-income countries. Consumption of tobacco products is increasing globally, though it is decreasing in some high-income and upper middle-income countries. World Health Organization

Leading cause of death, illness and impoverishment The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced. It kills nearly six million people a year of whom more than 5 million are users and ex users and more than 600 000 are nonsmokers exposed to second-hand smoke. Approximately one person dies every six seconds due to tobacco and this accounts for one in 10 adult deaths. Up to half of current users will eventually die of a tobacco-related disease. Nearly 80% of the more than one billion smokers worldwide live in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of tobacco-related illness and death is heaviest. Tobacco users who die prematurely deprive their families of income, raise the cost of health care and hinder economic development. In some countries, children from poor households are frequently employed in tobacco farming to provide family income. These children are especially vulnerable to "green tobacco sickness", which is caused by the nicotine that is absorbed through the skin from the handling of wet tobacco leaves. World Health Organization

Gradual Killer Because there is a lag of several years between when people start using tobacco and when their health suffers, the epidemic of tobacco-related disease and death has just begun. Tobacco caused 100 million deaths in the 20th century. If current trends continue, it will cause up to one billion deaths in the 21st century. Unchecked, tobacco-related deaths will increase to more than eight million per year by 2030. More than 80% of those deaths will be in low- and middle-income countries. World Health Organization

Second hand smoke Second-hand smoke is the smoke that fills restaurants, offices or other enclosed spaces when people burn tobacco products such as cigarettes, bidis and water pipes. There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. Every person should be able to breathe smoke-free air. Smoke-free laws protect the health of non-smokers, are popular, do not harm business and encourage smokers to quit. World Health Organization

Risks of second hand smoke Under 11% of the world's population are protected by comprehensive national smoke-free laws. The number of people protected from second-hand smoke more than doubled to 739 million in 2010 from 354 million in 2008. Almost half of children regularly breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke. Over 40% of children have at least one smoking parent. Second-hand smoke causes more than 600 000 premature deaths per year. In 2004, children accounted for 31% of the deaths attributable to second-hand smoke. There are more than 4000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, of which at least 250 are known to be harmful and more than 50 are known to cause cancer. In adults, second-hand smoke causes serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including coronary heart disease and lung cancer. In infants, it causes sudden death. In pregnant women, it causes low birth weight. World Health Organization

Tobacco users need help to quit Studies show that few people understand the specific health risks of tobacco use. For example, a 2009 survey in China revealed that only 37% of smokers knew that smoking causes coronary heart disease and only 17% knew that it causes stroke.2 Among smokers who are aware of the dangers of tobacco, most want to quit. Counseling and medication can more than double the chance that a smoker who tries to quit will succeed. National comprehensive health-care services supporting cessation are available in only 19 countries, representing 14% of the world's population. There is no cessation assistance in 28% of low-income countries and 7% of middle-income countries. World Health Organization

Do you consider the twin study to be credible? Yes No I could not tell

Do you consider the Flinstones and the Three Stooges to be effective on children? Yes No I have not decided

Do you consider the use of tobacco in Hollywood movies to be a factor in smoking uptake by adolescents? Yes No I have not decided

Do you consider the denial under oath by tobacco executives and the industry that smoking is not addictive to be a factor in smoking uptake by adolescents and young adults? Yes No I have not decided

College-aged women and smoking According to the American Legacy Foundation, what are three points of evidence on the relationship of smoking and quitting for females between 16 and 24 years of age? 83 percent of 16 to 24 year old female smokers say they can quit whenever they want, 60 percent have tried to quit. But only 3 percent succeed.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women (after lung cancer). What is the difference in death rate from breast cancer between smokers and non-smokers? Smokers are 2.5 times more likely to die from their breast cancer.  

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for US women Heart disease is the leading cause of death for US women. What is the relationship of smoking and heart disease? Smoking more than doubles the risk for heart disease.

What is the comparison in terms of fertility rates between smokers and non-smokers? The fertility rates of women who smoke are about 30% lower than those of non-smoking women

What are three points of comparison between men and women who smoke at the same level? Women smokers become addicted to nicotine faster, Women get sicker and sooner, Women die at a higher rate than male smokers who smoke at the same level.

Since 1987 lung cancer has replaced breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer in women. What is the percentage of lung cancer deaths among women who continue to smoke which are attributable to smoking. 90% of all lung cancer deaths in women who continue to smoke are attributable to smoking

Why do UCI women smoke? Smoking Is A Lifestyle Coping Tool: Smoking is used as a way to suppress uncomfortable feelings, and smoking is used to alleviate stress, calm nerves, and relax. Yes No I do not know

Smoking as a tranquilizer: The habit of cigarette smoking is often used to tranquilize emotional issues like anxiety, stress, or low self-esteem. Yes No I do not know

The feel good syndrome: Smoking is a way to avoid feeling unpleasant emotions such as sadness, grief, and anxiety. It can hide apprehensions, fears, and pain. Yes No I do not know

Smoking makes you feel calm and alive: Smokers often say that lighting up a cigarette can calm their nerves, satisfy their cravings, and help them feel energized. Yes No I do not know

You are in the midst of transition: Yes No I do not know

Social acceptability and being “cool”. Yes No I do not know

More attractive to young men. Yes No I do not know

Started young and cannot quit. Yes No I do not know

Review question Do you consider the demonstration with the twins where the smoker already had physical changes of a negative nature to be credible? Yes No I still have not made up my mind

Review question For men only, do you think UCI women smoke with one reason being more appealing to men? Yes No I still have not made up my mind

Review question For women only, do you think UCI women smoke with one reason being more appealing to men? Yes No I still have not made up my mind

Review question Do you consider it credible that 83% of college aged women say they can quit anytime they want? Yes No I still have not made up my mind

Review question Do you consider it credible that 60% of college aged women have tried to quit? Yes No I still have not made up my mind

Review question Do you consider it credible that 3% of college aged women have been successful in quitting? Yes No I still have not made up my mind

Simpsons questions The line “a cool choice for a hot night” shows the writers put a lot of thought into this vignette. Do you consider the vignette: Entertainment Making smoking appear “normal” and even useful for a ballerina

For women students, are your heroines in the culture smokers? Yes No Some

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tips from former smokers Will this campaign be a disincentive for adolescents? Yes No I have not made up my mind

CBS Evening News Is this campaign by the CDC worth $54 million in taxpayer dollars? Yes No I have not made up my mind

In your opinion, do “hard hitting” ads work on children? Yes No I have not decided

In your opinion, who should pay the estimated $1 billion in health care costs associated with the effects of smoking? The taxpayer The smoker

Current smoking in the media Mad Men Would this be taken as glamorous for adolescents and young adults? Yes No I do not know

Current smoking in the media Brad Pitt as Tyler Durden Would this be taken as glamorous for adolescents and young adults? Yes No I do not know

Anti-smoking Public Service Announcement In your opinion, will this be effective? Yes No Maybe

Big tobacco in Malawi Is this treason of the state? Yes No I do not know

Astonishment and tobacco question Will people 100 years from now be astonished by our global failure to address the preventable tobacco epidemic? Yes No It is too early to tell

Is the Porky Pig cartoon from 1938 pro-smoking as it impacts children or anti-smoking? It is pro-smoking because of the strong masculine figures It is anti-smoking because Porky (and children) will listen to their mothers It gives too many mixed messages to make a firm conclusion

Smoking uptake in relationship to smoking in the movies The evidence is strong enough that any movie with smoking should be rated R The evidence is not strong enough to try to get a rating change They are not going to change anyway

Researchers say that when it comes to smoking, life imitates art Researchers say that when it comes to smoking, life imitates art. A new study published this month in The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine tracked more than 6,500 kids between the ages of 10 and 14, over a two-year period. Dartmouth researchers say young people who had the greatest exposure to smoking scenes are twice as likely to become "established" smokers.

"Movies are the single largest influence getting kids to smoke today, more powerful even than parenting role models and even cigarette advertising," Professor Stanton Glantz, of the Medical School at the University Of California, San Francisco, told CBS correspondent Jeff Glor.

"I think Hollywood is smart enough and creative enough to make good movies that they're selling to kids without promoting tobacco," Glanz said.

Farone’s list of big tobacco actions Deny causation Deny addiction Minimize the risk Lobby against regulation Intimidate employees and witnesses Give large sums of money to politicians Fund "science" to encourage unhealthy habits and encourage cigarette use Give money to universities and charities

Will big tobacco change? Yes, but probably not willingly No, because the global community is too weak