Attitude towards Tobacco Consumption

The World Health Organization (WHO) attributes some 4 million deaths a year to tobacco, a figure which is expected to rise to 8.4 million deaths a year by 2020. By that time, 70% of these deaths will be occurring in developing countries. Studies in the developed countries show that most people begin using tobacco before the age of 18 years. Recent trends indicate an earlier age of initiation and rising smoking prevalence rates among children and adolescents. If these patterns continue, tobacco use will result in the deaths of 250 million people who are children and adolescents today, many of them in developing countries. Adolescents consume tobacco not because they lack knowledge about the risk of tobacco consumption but due to misguided beliefs and attitudes.