Increasing Tobacco Consumption Statistics
According to the Ministry of Health, tobacco use among individuals aged 18 and over increased by about 14% from 2016 to 2021. During this period, men’s consumption rose by 3%, while women’s consumption surged by approximately 11%. Hookah use alone saw a 54% increase compared to 2016. Among young adults aged 18 to 24, tobacco use increased by 90% among women and 34% among men. Daily cigarette smoking in women increased by 190% and by 46% in men during this period. For the 25 to 34 age group, tobacco use increased by 19.6% in men and 90.88% in women. These statistics highlight the troubling rise in tobacco use, especially among women, which poses a significant threat to family health.
Behzad Vali Zadeh, head of the National Tobacco Control Secretariat, explained that the tobacco industry employs various tactics to attract more people to tobacco use. These include introducing new tobacco products like electronic cigarettes, vaping systems, and heated tobacco products as supposedly safer alternatives. Young people are often misled by these claims and quickly develop nicotine dependence, becoming regular tobacco users. The industry also uses diverse flavors and extensive advertising in films to lure youth. These strategies trap young consumers, many of whom ultimately face severe health consequences or death.
Financial and Health Damages of Tobacco
The increasing number of tobacco users directly correlates with rising healthcare costs for treating tobacco-related diseases. Each unit of currency spent on tobacco leads to significantly higher expenditures in the healthcare system for treating these diseases. Jafar Jandghi, head of the Environmental Health and Occupational Health Center at the Ministry of Health, estimated that the annual cost of tobacco use exceeds 500 trillion rials. This includes 136 trillion rials for direct health expenses, 226 trillion rials for premature deaths (with over 50% of tobacco-related deaths occurring before age 70), and 139 trillion rials due to reduced productivity from work absences.
Tobacco Advertising in Media
Jandaghi pointed out that television series and movies often serve as indirect advertisements for tobacco use. He emphasized the need for regulatory bodies to address this issue. Reviewing the financial impact of tobacco use on the country’s healthcare system reveals the potential alternative investments. The funds spent on treating tobacco-related illnesses could be used to build sports complexes, cultural centers, cinemas, and libraries, providing recreational facilities for the youth and contributing to societal well-being.
Resource: Mehr News, May 29, 2024
This article has been prepared with the assistance of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more details, please refer to our Terms and Conditions. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author.