According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Europe is expected to continue having the highest share of tobacco users in the world in 2030. The region comprises 53 countries.
Tobacco is already responsible for more than 1.1 million deaths each year in the region.
These deaths are primarily caused by non-communicable diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases, WHO said in a press release.
The organization estimates that the trend is unlikely to change significantly without new and stronger measures.
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Gaps in regulation
WHO has published ten fact sheets on tobacco control in the region. They show that many countries have introduced regulations, but efforts remain uneven.
Only 18 countries have comprehensive smoke-free legislation covering all public spaces.
Thirteen countries have a total ban on tobacco advertising. In 19 countries, cigarettes are more affordable than they were in 2014.
Regulations on e-cigarettes and other new nicotine products vary widely from country to country. According to WHO, this weakens overall prevention efforts.
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Women and young people
Developments among women and young people are particularly concerning.
According to WHO, the region has not met the target of reducing tobacco use among women by 30 percent by 2025. Projections indicate a decline of 12 percent from 2010 to 2025.
More than 40 percent of the world’s female smokers, equivalent to 62 million people, live in the region.
Around 4 million young people aged 13 to 15 use tobacco products.
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European girls aged 13–15 currently record the highest tobacco use rates of any peer group worldwide.
At the same time, the region has the highest proportion of young e-cigarette users in the world, at 14.3 percent. Among adults, an estimated 31.4 million people use e-cigarettes.
Sources: WHO.
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.