Tobacco smoking is the world’s leading cause of preventable death and disease, and quitting smoking can produce considerable and immediate health benefits. Most smokers who want to quit tend to do so without assistance, but some use prescription medication or nicotine replacement therapies. Initial efforts using these methods are often unsuccessful. In fact, approximately half […]

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, critiquing the World Health Organization (WHO) has become somewhat fashionable. Perhaps spotting an appetite for this vein of commentary, António Abrunhosa recently penned an article condemning the WHO’s spending on tobacco control efforts. Through a series of  deceptive claims, Abrunhosa attempts to diminish the importance of such efforts—and, ultimately, […]

In response to COVID-19, the global medical community has devoted unprecedented resources to the development of new vaccines and treatments. These initiatives are necessary and laudable; yet, as researchers and public health officials divert attention to the pandemic, they risk overlooking other pressing health challenges, such as diabetes, depression or the tobacco epidemic. While these […]

More than 1.3 billion people use tobacco around the world, and even though more than 8 million people die each year from tobacco-related diseases, traditional combustible cigarettes are still the most common form of nicotine consumption in the world. Unfortunately, many people mistakenly believe that nicotine is responsible for smoking-related cancers and other illnesses. However, […]

There have been many studies examining the effects of lives saved since the adoption of the WHO FCTC and its MPOWER measures.  The recent one, published in Tobacco Control by Husain et al, explored two issues: First, how effective are interventions such as MPOWER in achieving our shared goal of a smoke-free world? Second, can […]