Through my 20 years in tobacco control, I have often been asked, “What is the main challenge faced by the tobacco control movement?” I’ve heard the question so many times, the answer has become reflexive: “Tobacco industry interference.” Industry interference is often blamed for tobacco control woes – and rightly so. But I wonder if […]

I was quite surprised when the World Health Organization (WHO) recently issued a statement mischaracterizing the mission of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, and wrongly suggesting the Foundation doesn’t comply with Article 5.3 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). As someone deeply involved in the development of the FCTC as a cabinet […]

The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World was established to address a major public health crisis and the world’s number one preventable cause of death: smoking. It was founded with the intent to bring needed resources, expertise, innovative thinking and a collaborative spirt to form partnerships, initiate dialogue, conduct research and take action more rapidly to rid […]

This is an open letter sent by the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World president Dr. Derek Yach, on January 9, 2018, to Prof. David B. Abrams et. al in response to their letter addressed to Dr. Yach and the Foundation on November 16, 2017, in regards to funding, governance and independence. Prof. David B. Abrams […]

Each year, smoking kills 7.2 million people. That’s one person every six seconds. The dead are mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, sisters and brothers. The vast majority die from diseases like cancer and heart disease associated with inhaling chemical-laced smoke from burning tobacco. Ultimately, yes, it will be wonderful to eliminate tobacco use altogether, and it’s […]