Tobacco Control

[DOTTIEKJ]

SUBJECT : WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY 2008

DATE : 31st May of every year

THEME : “TOBACCO-FREE YOUTH”

INTRODUCTION

Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. It is the only legal consumer product that kills one third to one half of those who use it as intended by its manufacturers, with its victims dying on average 15 years prematurely. Approximately 1.8 billion young people (aged 10-24) live in our world today with more than 85% found in developing countries. Having survived the vulnerable childhood period, these young people are generally healthy.
However, as the tobacco industry intensifies its efforts to hook new, young and potentially life-long tobacco users, the health of a significant percentage of the world's youth is seriously threatened by their deadly products.

Nicotine is a highly addictive substance in tobacco and tobacco products hence child and adolescent experimentation can easily lead to a lifetime of tobacco dependence.

The World No Tobacco Day is commemorated 31st May of every year. Each year a theme is developed according to the most pressing issues that require global attention to take action to curb the devastating effects of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.

WHY “TOBACCO-FREE YOUTH”

Globally, most people start smoking before the age of 18, and almost a quarter of these individuals begin using tobacco before the age of 10. The younger children are when they first try smoking, the more likely they are to become regular tobacco users and the less likely they are to quit.
It is clearly proven that exposure to direct and indirect pro-tobacco advertising, together with other marketing strategies used by the tobacco industry, leads to an increase in experimentation by young people and, in turn, to the very real risk of their becoming regular users of tobacco products. The tobacco industry spends tens of billions of dollars worldwide every year to effectively market its products in as many ways as possible.

•In response to this threat to young people, this year's World No Tobacco Day campaign focuses on the following main message:
One of the most effective ways countries can protect young people from experimenting and becoming regular tobacco users is to ban all forms of direct and indirect tobacco advertising, including promotion of tobacco products and sponsorship, by the tobacco industry, of any events or activities.

[Memo]

I am glad to see you came,welcome&its good to have a brainiac like you here...............