Part I: Setting the theoretical foundation for tobacco control: Chapter 1: Tobacco as a risk factor: health, social and economic costs.

This chapter reviews the global data on the tobacco epidemic. Tobacco is now a major preventable cause of death in developed and developing countries. Every day over 13 000 people worldwide die from tobacco. Assuming current patterns of tobacco use and intervention efforts, WHO projects that from 2000 to 2030 the number of smokers will rise from 1.2 billion to 1.6 billion and the annual number of deaths will increase from 4.9 million to 10 million. Aggressive promotion by the tobacco industry, and permissive environments that make tobacco products readily available and affordable play a major role in inducing young people to take up tobacco use. The addictive nature of nicotine ensures that majority of tobacco users remain hooked for life. The health and economic costs of tobacco use, however, are borne not only by tobacco users, but by society in general. The chapter examines tobacco consumption trends among adults and youth, presenting cross-country data where available. It illustrates how the costs of tobacco consumption affect tobacco users, non-users, families and communities, businesses, governments and society, making the tobacco epidemic a concern for everyone. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]