Smoking

WHO response to cigarettes

WHO (World Health Organisation) is committed to fighting the global tobacco epidemic for public health and reaffirms the right of people to the highest standard of health, provides legal dimensions for international health cooperation and sets high standards for compliance.

In 2008, WHO introduced a practical, cost effective way to focus on tobacco control around the world, with each measure called MPOWER

The 6 MPOWER measures are:

• Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies
• Protect people from tobacco use
• Offer help to quit tobacco use
• Warn about the dangers of tobacco
• Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
• Raise taxes on tobacco.

Key facts

• Tobacco kills up to half of its users.
• Tobacco kills more than 7 million people each year. More than 6 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use while around 890 000 are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.
• Around 80% of the world's 1.1 billion smokers live in low- and middle-income countries.

Have a chat to your dentist if you need help quitting - your teeth and gums, and your heart will thank you.