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Trillion dollar economic burden underlines need for tobacco control

(January 10 2017, New York, USA) – Vital Strategies, a global health not-for profit organization, welcomes the publication of a report from World Health Organization and the National Cancer Institute that examines The Economics of Tobacco and Tobacco Control. This comprehensive analysis of the latest evidence from high and low income countries, around tobacco use, tobacco growing, manufacturing and trade, tobacco product taxes and prices, and tobacco control policies, concludes that smoking costs the global economy US $1 trillion every year.

José Luis Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vital Strategies said:

“The extensive analysis in this report debunks the tobacco industry’s repetitive, erroneous arguments around the economic impacts of tobacco and tobacco control. The truth is that tobacco causes a US $ 1 trillion global economic burden and is keeping millions of people in poverty and ill-health – including tobacco farmers and workers in some of the world’s poorest countries. While governments are committed to reduce tobacco deaths, the lack of effective tobacco control laws in many countries means that tobacco will kill one-third more smokers and non-smokers by 2030: 8 million deaths every year.

“This is avoidable. We urge governments to implement strong tobacco control policies, particularly high tobacco taxes that have the greatest, fastest impact on consumption while also potentially funding better access to health care. Tobacco taxes should also be used to increase investment in proven, cost-effective tobacco control policies. For example, sustainable, impactful and sustained mass media campaigns to warn people about the real harms of tobacco help to discourage smoking initiation and encourage quitting. They also help resolve distortions in the marketplace that are caused by misleading tobacco industry marketing – enabling citizens to make better, healthier decisions. That information must reach youth before they initiate tobacco use – particularly via social media channels where the tobacco industry is targeting children, practically unfettered.

“We thank the WHO and NCI for their tireless work on this important report and urge governments to take note of the recommendations, which can deliver real economic and public health progress. Vital Strategies stands ready to play our part.”

About Vital Strategies

Vital Strategies is a global health organization that seeks to accelerate progress on the world’s most pressing health problems. Our team combines evidence-based strategies with innovation to help develop and implement sound public health policies, manage programs efficiently, strengthen data systems, conduct research, and design strategic communication campaigns for policy and behavior change. To find out more, please visit vstrategystage.wpengine.com or Twitter @VitalStrat.

For further information or to arrange an interview with a Vital Strategies public health and tobacco control expert, please contact Tracey Johnston, Vital Strategies, at +44.7889.081.170 or tjohnston@vitalstrategies.org