Smoking is the foremost preventable cause of premature death and disease in Malta – Health Division, Smoking is the foremost preventable cause of premature death and disease in Malta – Health Division, WHO expresses concern about the increase in tobacco use worldwide. Smoking is estimated to result in at least 4 million deaths annually and is projected to cause 10 million deaths by the year 2030 if not controlled. WHO expresses concern about the increase in tobacco use worldwide. Smoking is estimated to result in at least 4 million deaths annually and is projected to cause 10 million deaths by the year 2030 if not controlled.

Smoking causes fatal diseases. Causes include cancers of the lung and other organs, heart disease and other circulatory diseases and respiratory diseases. Smoking causes fatal diseases. Causes include cancers of the lung and other organs, heart disease and other circulatory diseases and respiratory diseases.

Passive smoking - an ‘A’ class carcinogen that harms non-smokers grievously, irrespective of age. Passive smoking - an ‘A’ class carcinogen that harms non-smokers grievously, irrespective of age.

Babies born to smoking mothers have lower birth weights and face greater risks of respiratory disease and sudden infant death syndrome than other babies do. Babies born to smoking mothers have lower birth weights and face greater risks of respiratory disease and sudden infant death syndrome than other babies do.

The non-smoker’s right to breathe clean air resulted in smoking bans and smoke-free policy in public places and entertainment venues. The non-smoker’s right to breathe clean air resulted in smoking bans and smoke-free policy in public places and entertainment venues.

Smoking usually starts in adolescence or early adulthood. Identity issues, rejection of authority, peer pressure, risk taking, image/relationship issues and pleasure- seeking may all lead to smoking. Smoking usually starts in adolescence or early adulthood. Identity issues, rejection of authority, peer pressure, risk taking, image/relationship issues and pleasure- seeking may all lead to smoking.

At the age of 13, the prevalence of smoking in girls exceeds that in boys, with 31% as compared to 25% of boys. At the age of 13, the prevalence of smoking in girls exceeds that in boys, with 31% as compared to 25% of boys. In Malta, daily smokers aged years almost doubled between 1991 and (Caritas – Malta, 1992;1998) In Malta, daily smokers aged years almost doubled between 1991 and (Caritas – Malta, 1992;1998)

7.7% of males and 4.9% of females under the age of 11 have smoked at some point in life - Health Behaviour Survey in School Children, % of males and 4.9% of females under the age of 11 have smoked at some point in life - Health Behaviour Survey in School Children,2002. During the previous year 31% of males and 33% of females aged between years smoked at least once. During the previous year 31% of males and 33% of females aged between years smoked at least once.