Tobacco’s Shifting Burden: From the Rich to the Poor

One cause of concern is the prevalence of smoking in the region. “Unless these high rates of smoking are curtailed, cancer mortality rates will continue to rise,” said Harvard Medical School Professor Paul Goss, lead author of a new Lancet Oncology study about cancer prevention in Latin America.

His statements about Latin America hold true elsewhere. In our December 2012 series, “Cancer’s New Battleground – the Developing World,” we showed that cancer isn’t just a rich-world disease. It’s a disease that’s also taking a heavy toll in the poorest countries. In fact, some cancers – including cervical, stomach, and liver – hit developing populations especially hard, and one cancer is well on its way to becoming a leading cause of death in the developing world: lung cancer.

(From PRI)

Tobacco display ban in large shops comes into force

Cigarettes can no longer be displayed in Scottish shops

A ban on the display of cigarettes and other tobacco products in large shops in Scotland has come into force.

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said the move will help prevent young people from taking up smoking.

Under the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010, the sale of cigarettes from vending machines is also banned.

Stores that do not comply could be convicted of a criminal offence or receive a fixed penalty fine.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland have already brought in similar bans to prevent large stores from displaying cigarettes and tobacco.

The Scottish government’s Tobacco Control Strategy also supports the introduction of standardised packaging.

(From BBC)

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Anti-smoking campaign from the UK’s National Health Service.

Ministers aim to make Scotland ‘tobacco free’ by 2034

Plain cigarette packaging is to be introduced in Scotland under a plan to make the nation “tobacco free” by 2034.

The Scottish government said it wanted to see less than 5% of the population choosing to smoke by the target date.

Ministers also pledged to ban smoking in hospital grounds by 2015 and set a target for cutting children’s exposure to second hand smoke.

Smoking accounts for more than 13,000 deaths in Scotland each year and is the main cause of early death.

Treating people with smoking-related conditions costs NHS Scotland about £271m each year.

The Scottish government’s plans, contained in its new tobacco control strategy, are the latest in a series of measures to cut smoking.

Plain, or “standardised”, tobacco packaging is usually free from bright colours and must carry prominent health warnings.

Last December, Australia became the first country in the world to introduce the measure.

However, pro-smoking group Forest said there was no credible evidence that plan packaging would cut youth smoking.

The Scottish government’s action plan also includes more money for educational programmes to prevent young people from taking up smoking and a national marketing campaign on the danger of second-hand smoke.

(From BBC)

What to Expect When You Quit Smoking.