8 million deaths each year due to tobacco

Tobacco causes more than 8 million deaths worldwide each year, including nearly 7 million direct users and about 1.2 million passive smokers.

On the morning of May 27, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan announced the above information at a rally in response to World No Tobacco Day on May 31. This number increased compared to 2019, when the medical journal The Lancet announced that about 7.69 million people die each year from smoking. In Vietnam, at least 40,000 people have been killed by tobacco each year.

According to Deputy Minister Thuan, smoking is a factor that increases the risk of respiratory infections as well as the severity of respiratory diseases. In addition, smoking is also a leading cause of diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Tobacco use also causes economic losses, including spending on smoking; medical examination and treatment costs; reduced or lost working capacity due to illness and premature death.

In Vietnam, the rate of male smoking decreased from 45.3% (2015) to 42.3% (2020). In particular, the rate of passive smoking also decreased significantly in places such as: workplaces, educational institutions, on public transport and indoor areas.

The rate of tobacco use among young people aged 15-24 decreased from 26% in 2015 to 13% in 2020. Among students aged 13-15, the smoking rate decreased from 2.5% in 2014 to 1.9% in 2022.

However, our country is still in the group of countries with the highest number of smokers in the world. Recently, electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and shisha have appeared in the country. These drugs are not yet allowed to be imported, traded, and circulated, but their purchase, sale, and advertising are taking place widely, especially on the internet.

Electronic cigarettes are designed in a variety of styles and flavors that are very attractive to young people, leading to a rapid increase in the use of electronic cigarettes, especially among school-age children.

"If we do not continue to implement strong and timely measures to prevent the harmful effects of tobacco, the rate of tobacco use will increase again," the deputy minister said, adding that the health and economic losses caused by using e-cigarettes are just as serious as those caused by cigarettes.

In addition, the widespread sale of cigarettes, their low prices, and low taxes also make access to the products easier and reduce the effectiveness of smoking cessation efforts.

Cycling in response to World No Tobacco Day May 31. Photo: Le Hao — Cycling in response to World No Tobacco Day May 31. Photo: *Le Hao*

Vietnam aims to reduce the rate of tobacco use among men aged 15 and over to below 36% by 2030, and among women aged 15 and over to below 1%.

According to Dr. Angela Pratt, Chief Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam, there is still much to do to achieve this goal. A very high priority is to increase taxes and prices because tobacco prices in Vietnam are currently among the cheapest in the world. At the same time, it is necessary to prevent and control the use of new tobacco products.

Le Nga

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