Can’t Stop Smoking? It Kills 5 Million Every Year

If you can’t stop smoking, you may be interested in the new World Health Organization report that shows it kills 5 million every year. WHO warns the figure could rise if countries don’t take stronger measures to fight smoking.

The report on tobacco use and control says nearly 95 percent of the global population is unprotected by laws banning smoking. It also states secondhand smoke kills about 600,000 people every year.

“People need more than to be told that tobacco is bad for human health,” said Douglas Bettcher, director of WHO’s Tobacco-Free Initiative. “They need their governments to implement the WHO Framework Convention.”

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is an international treaty ratified by nearly 170 countries in 2003. It obligates countries to take smoking cessation actions.

Here in the United States, more and more states are trimming their quit smoking campaign budgets due to the recession.

WHO estimates that unless more is done to prevent smoking, tobacco could kill about 8 million people every year by 2030.

As an ex smoker myself, I know how hard it is to quit. There are great , effective nicotine replacement aids available today that can make the battle easier. If you can’t stop smoking, find an aid that will work for you and give it a try.