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A Global Epidemic

Hundreds of cigarettes arranged in the shape of countries on a world map

Smoking is a relentless killer. Surveys shows the that;
  • It killed 100,000,000 people during the last century.
  • It takes about 6,000,000 lives a year.
  • On average, it kills one person every six seconds.
And there is no sign of a turnaround.


Researchers predict that smoking will have taken 1,000,000,000 lives by the end of the 21st century.

Unlike epidemics that send doctors racing to discover a cure, this scourge is eminently curable; the solution is well-known. Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization, stated: “The tobacco epidemic is entirely man-made, and it can be turned around through the concerted efforts of governments and civil society.”

Each year, the tobacco industry spends billions of dollars on advertising to attract new customers. The addictive nature of tobacco almost ensures that casualties will remain high among the one billion smokers already hooked.

Advertising and addiction keep many trapped in a habit they wish they could break.

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