Smoking causes premature death

Smoking attributable mortality is mainly due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancers.

Smoking harms virtually every organ in the human body

Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the human body, causing a wide range of diseases and a massive burden of chronic illness. Not only active smoking, but also passive inhalation of environmental tobacco smoke causes these adverse health effects.

Smoking harms society

Conservative estimates put the costs for only two smoking related diseases (COPD and CVD) for the EU at an equivalent of 1% of the region's GDP.

Tobacco epidemic in the EU is evolving

In general, smoking prevalence is higher among men than among women, although the trends show a narrowing difference. Smoking prevalence is higher amongst those who are less well educated and younger in age. In most European countries smoking is prevalent among lower socio-economic groups. European youth have the highest smoking prevalence rates in the world.

Mortality patterns are indicative of smoking trends two to three decades ago. In western European countries smoking attributable mortality is declining for both males and females. In Eastern European countries, the male mortality rate is now either peaking or just beginning to decline, while the female mortality rate is still increasing.

Success of interventions geared at smoking behaviour will determine the future health of the EU population

Collective interventions, such as anti-smoking campaigns raise awareness of the adverse effects of smoking, induce individual cessation efforts, and prevent young people from taking up smoking.

Individual interventions, such as pharmacological and behavioural therapies, significantly increase the probability of long term smoking cessation.They are highly cost-effective and when combined with collective interventions prove to be even more effective.