The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that tobacco use continues to kill more than 7 million people every year, calling it one of the world’s most preventable causes of death as global attention builds ahead of World No Tobacco Day on 31 May.
By Advent Shoko
In a new public health statement, the UN health agency said tobacco companies are deliberately designing products to increase addiction, especially among young users, through flavouring and chemical additives that make smoking and vaping easier to start and harder to quit.
- Zimbabwe Clarifies Why President Mnangagwa Rejected $350 Million US Health Support Deal
- U.S. Denies Seeking Zimbabwe’s Critical Minerals In $367 Million Health Deal Fallout
- Mnangagwa Unveils Adlam House As Zimbabwe Pushes Biggest Public Healthcare Rebuild In Years
Tobacco Death Toll Remains a Global Health Crisis
According to the WHO, tobacco use kills over 7 million people annually, with up to half of long-term users dying prematurely if they do not quit.
Health experts say the figure reflects both direct smoking-related deaths and exposure to second-hand smoke, which continues to affect millions of non-smokers worldwide, including children and vulnerable populations.
The organisation has repeatedly described tobacco addiction as a global epidemic, driven not only by nicotine but also by aggressive marketing strategies and product design.
Tobacco Industry Accused Of Engineering Addiction
The WHO warned that tobacco and nicotine companies are intentionally engineering products to deepen addiction.
“Tobacco and nicotine companies deliberately design their products to hook you,” the organisation said.
It added that flavours and cooling agents are often used to mask the harshness of nicotine, making it easier for users to inhale more deeply and become addicted faster.
Public health specialists say these additives are particularly attractive to younger users, raising concerns about a new generation becoming dependent on nicotine products through cigarettes, vapes and other emerging tobacco alternatives.
Health Benefits Begin Soon After Quitting
Despite the risks, the WHO stressed that quitting tobacco brings immediate and long-term health benefits, even for long-term users.
According to the agency, positive changes begin within minutes of stopping use:
– Within 20 minutes, heart rate begins to drop
– Within 2 to 12 weeks, lung function improves
– Within 1 year, the risk of heart disease is cut by half
Medical experts say these early improvements often motivate smokers to continue quitting, as the body begins to recover quickly once exposure to nicotine stops.
Global Push Ahead Of World No Tobacco Day
The warning comes as governments, health organisations and advocacy groups prepare for World No Tobacco Day, observed annually on 31 May, which aims to highlight the dangers of tobacco use and promote stronger regulation of the industry.
The WHO is urging countries to strengthen tobacco control policies, including tighter restrictions on marketing, especially to young people, and expanded access to cessation support services.
Call To Break Addiction And Seek Help
In its public message, the WHO encouraged smokers and nicotine users to seek help to break addiction, stressing that support services are available and effective.
“Take the next step, break the addiction. Help is available,” the organisation said.
Health professionals continue to emphasise that quitting tobacco remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke and respiratory illnesses.
As World No Tobacco Day approaches, the WHO says the focus must remain on prevention, education and reducing the global burden of tobacco-related deaths, which continue to claim millions of lives each year.
Leave a Reply