2021全球烟草流行报告-212页_3mb

WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2021: Addressing New and Emerging Products

Core Content

The WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2021 focuses on the growing threat posed by new and emerging tobacco products, particularly Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. It emphasizes the importance of tobacco control measures like the MPOWER framework, which includes six key strategies: monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies, protecting people from tobacco smoke, offering help to quit tobacco use, warning about the dangers of tobacco, enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, and raising taxes on tobacco.

Key Findings

• ENDS are addictive and not without harm: Despite being marketed as safer alternatives to cigarettes, ENDS deliver nicotine and pose health risks. Their use among children and adolescents can double the risk of future cigarette smoking.
• ENDS should be strictly regulated: The report calls for comprehensive regulation to protect public health, as these products are not adequately controlled in many countries.
• Progress in tobacco control remains strong: As of 2020, 5.3 billion people (69% of the global population) are protected by at least one MPOWER measure at the highest level of achievement, and 98 countries have implemented at least two MPOWER measures.
• Smoking prevalence has declined: Globally, smoking rates among people over 15 years have fallen from 22.7% in 2019 to 17.5%.
• Tobacco control is integral to global development: It contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 3, particularly in reducing the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which account for 71% of global deaths.
• Tobacco-attributable diseases worsen outcomes from COVID-19: Smoking and NCDs increase the risk of severe illness and death from the virus, highlighting the urgency of tobacco control.

Main Views

• Tobacco companies are using new products to circumvent regulations: They promote ENDS as alternatives to smoking, but these efforts aim to hook new generations on nicotine and avoid existing tobacco control laws.
• MPOWER measures have saved lives: Since 2008, MPOWER measures have saved over 37 million lives, with smoke-free laws and health warnings being the most widely adopted.
• Tobacco control must remain a priority: Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, tobacco control efforts have continued, and more needs to be done to protect public health.
• Regulation of ENDS is inconsistent globally: Only 111 countries regulate ENDS, with 32 banning their sale and 79 implementing other forms of regulation. 84 countries still lack any form of regulation, leaving them vulnerable.

Key Information

• Global cigarette sales have declined since 2012: This is attributed to the implementation of MPOWER measures.
• MPOWER measures include:
  • Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies
  • Protecting people from tobacco smoke
  • Offering help to quit tobacco use
  • Warning about the dangers of tobacco
  • Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship
  • Raising taxes on tobacco
• The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is a critical global treaty that has been ratified by 182 countries, representing 90% of the world's population.
• The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products has also seen growth, with 62 Parties as of 2020.
• The tobacco industry continues to interfere: They use "corporate social responsibility" initiatives to undermine public health efforts and promote new products.
• Scientific evidence should guide policy decisions: Until independent research clarifies the risks of ENDS, governments should remain cautious and implement strict regulations.

Conclusion

The 2021 WHO report underscores the need for continued and accelerated tobacco control efforts, especially in light of new products that may re-normalize smoking. It highlights the success of MPOWER measures in reducing tobacco use and the importance of protecting public health from the tobacco industry's influence. The report serves as a call to action for governments to strengthen implementation of the WHO FCTC and its Protocol, ensuring that tobacco control remains a global health priority.