CHEST Guidelines-Did-We-Finally-Slay-the-Evil-Dragon-of-Cigarette-S

Did-We-Finally-Slay-the-Evil-Dragon-of-Cigarette-S

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The commentary in "CHEST" December 2014, by Richard D. Hurt, MD, Joseph G. Murphy, MD, FCCP, and William F. Dunn, MD, FCCP, critiques the effectiveness of global anti-smoking campaigns and highlights the continuing prevalence and harm of cigarette smoking, especially in the developing world. Despite significant scientific evidence proving the dangers of smoking since the 1950s, cigarettes remain a major public health issue. This piece emphasizes that cigarette smoking causes 5.5 million premature deaths annually worldwide, a number expected to rise to 8 million by 2030. The authors argue that cigarettes are legally available largely due to historical accidents and lobbying, noting that modern regulations would likely prevent their approval today.<br /><br />The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), a global public health treaty aimed at reducing tobacco use, has seen widespread adoption but lacks ratification by the U.S. Smoking rates are declining in developed nations due to tighter regulations, but developing nations are experiencing an increase. American tobacco companies are financially thriving from global sales, pursuing opportunities in less-regulated markets like Russia and Indonesia.<br /><br />The commentary also explores electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), an unregulated market in many areas, noting that they may not reliably support smoking cessation and could pose their own health risks. The authors advocate pursuing an "Endgame Strategy" to eliminate cigarettes, suggesting measures like reducing nicotine content, implementing plain packaging, and restricting sales to a "tobacco-free generation." They call for medical societies to spearhead this initiative, arguing for global policy shifts from mere reduction to total eradication of smoking, posing it as a moral obligation to future generations.

Keywords

anti-smoking campaigns

cigarette smoking

public health

premature deaths

tobacco control

developing nations

e-cigarettes

Endgame Strategy

nicotine reduction

global policy