Tobacco or health: A global status report

The use of tobacco kills millions of people every year and ruins the health of million more. The damage to health is so severe and so widespread that it has been compared to the effects of a worldwide epidemic. This global status report on tobacco and its impact on health is a unique compilation of data on 190 countries. It is a comprehensive resource of economic, social, legal and health information that will be of use to all who are concerned to reduce the toll of death and ill-health that is attributable to tobacco. The global overview in Part I describes types of tobacco products, the prevalence of smoking in different areas and populations, tobacco consumption, the tobacco industry, health effects, and tobacco control measures, Part II provides this information in detail for the Member States of the World Health Organization, arranged by WHO region. The country profiles include data on demographic characteristics, the socioeconomic situation, health status, tobacco production and trade, tobacco use and tobacco-related deaths. They also describe a wide range of efforts to limit tobacco use and minimize the damage it causes. Tobacco is a serious look at the role it plays in our societies, our economies, and our health.