The Cost of Tobacco: Over 7 Million Lives Lost Worldwide in 2023

Exposure to tobacco remains a significant global health risk, causing more than 7 million deaths worldwide in 2023. According to a study presented by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, tobacco exposure continued to be the leading risk factor for deaths in men and ranked seventh for women. Researchers used data from the Global Burden of Disease study to present these striking findings at the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin.

Tobacco’s Deadly Reach

Despite the UK witnessing a 45% decline in deaths attributed to tobacco use since 1990, the global rate alarmingly increased by 24.4%. Countries such as Egypt saw a significant surge in tobacco-related deaths, witnessing a 124.3% uptick compared to 1990.

IHME Researcher, Brooks Morgan, emphasised tobacco’s role in contributing to approximately one in eight deaths globally. Sounds shocking, doesn’t it? Although there have been encouraging declines in some regions, an urgent need for enforcement of strategies to reduce tobacco use remains in others.

The Economic Burden of Tobacco

A separate study from the Institute of Clinical and Health Effectiveness (IECS) in Argentina reported the impact of tobacco use in five low and middle-income countries (Bolivia, Honduras, Nigeria, Paraguay, and Uruguay). The study estimated that tobacco caused over 41,000 deaths and cost these countries nearly £3.4bn in medical expenses, lost productivity, and informal caregiving.

Global Strategies and Recommendations

Recognising the devastating influence of tobacco, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged nations to strengthen efforts to control tobacco and newer nicotine products, such as vapes. This includes increasing taxes and mandating graphic warnings on packaging. Do these measures sound sufficient in your view?

Particularly, higher taxes on tobacco products were proposed to bridge the gap in health funding caused by drops in overseas aid in several countries.

Turning to Technology for Tobacco Control

In an interesting twist, AI may hold future answers. Fudan University researchers shared an innovative study involving an AI mobile phone tool, built to double chances of quitting smoking through tailored messages and games. Can technology grow to become our ally in the fight against tobacco use?

Comments by Allen Carr’s Easyway

The discomforting statistics and voices emerging from various global health institutions remind us of the significant work that lies ahead in addiction management. At Allen Carr’s Easyway, we echo the calls for ramped-up efforts and are committed to playing our part in providing effective solutions to combat tobacco addiction.

Tell us your thoughts

We’d love to hear your perspectives and experiences – do you believe the current strategies to reduce tobacco use are effective? What are your thoughts on employing AI technology to guide quitting processes? Share your thoughts and let’s enrich this discussion.