WHO: Tobacco use is on the decline, despite industry interference
The latest report found that consumption of tobacco is on the decline. However, trends indicate that the goal of a 30 percent reduction will not be met by 2025 as initially planned.
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00:00 Tobacco use is on the decline despite industry efforts to jeopardize the progress.
00:04 This is according to the latest World Health Organization tobacco trends report.
00:09 Since 2000, the WHO has been recording a steady drop in smoker numbers
00:14 with a current 1.25 billion adult users worldwide.
00:17 That also means that we have 19 million less smokers than we had two years ago.
00:27 That is the first time that we see such a decline.
00:30 While the report highlights that 150 countries are successfully reducing tobacco use,
00:36 the European region is slow to give up the habit.
00:39 The region that is a bit of a problem is the European region, where especially women are
00:53 on the increase in some parts in some countries or at very high levels still of tobacco users.
01:00 The report estimates that there are at least 37 million children aged 13 to 15
01:06 currently using some form of tobacco.
01:08 Many countries have found alarming levels of e-cigarette use among adolescents as well.
01:14 So we have teachers calling us, especially in the UK,
01:18 where you saw a 150% increase in the last three years of uptake of e-cigarettes by children.
01:27 Right?
01:29 So they call us to say, children cannot stay a whole 45 minute lesson anymore
01:36 because they need to step out to get, you know, e-cigarettes.
01:39 Since most e-cigarettes and vapes are purchased through the internet,
01:44 the WHO is pushing for countries to ensure the devices are no longer available to children.