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According to a report by health campaign group World Lung Foundation (WLF), the The tobacco industry gains $7,000 for every one of the approximately 6 million people who die each year from smoking-related illness.
The study states than more than 5.8 trillion cigarettes were smoked last year, a figure similar to that from 2013. China is experiencing an increased tobacco use in China, while in other countries it decreases.
The World Lung Foundation and the American Cancer Society announced in their Tobacco Atlas that in 2013 the tobacco industry profits were almost $45 billion. In the same time, 6.3 million people lost their lives from smoking-related illness, which leads to an equivalent of $7,000 profit for each death caused by tobacco.
The report added that, if current trends continue, in this century more than a billion people will die from smoking and exposure to tobacco,
Tobacco use is a major risk factor for a range of illnesses, but mostly of causing lung cancer, which has a high fatality rate. Heart disease, strokes and high blood pressure are caused by smoking, which is the most important preventable cause of premature death from such chronic conditions.
Last year, in China, almost 2,250 cigarettes were smoked per person over age 15. The world’s most populous state is high in the ranking of smoking, being among the ten countries who passed the 2.000 cigarettes level.
“The significant reductions in smoking rates in the United Kingdom, Brazil, Australia and other states that implement tight tobacco control laws have been set back by the growing consumption in a single nation: China,” the study said.
Many countries all around the world pushed forward some anti-tobacco laws, like including banning smoking in enclosed spaces such as restaurants, bars and offices, while also curbing advertising.
More than 80 percent of tobacco users and tobacco-related deaths are in low and middle-income countries. The Tobacco Atlas added that smoking among women is also rising, female lung cancer being an increasing health problem. Also, there are 24 countries where girls smoke more than boys, said the Tobacco Atlas, while there are only two countries where women smoke more than men.
”The health and economic case for reducing tobacco use has never been clearer,” said John Seffrin, chief executive of the ACS.
Image Source: First Care Med Center
