Tobacco is a major killer worldwide and is one of the main causes of premature death.
Each year, three million of the 30 million adult deaths in the world are attributable to tobacco. With current smoking patterns, by about 2025 this annual number will rise to 10 million deaths, of which seven million will then be in developing countries. Addiction to smoking usually begins before adult life, furthermore, children and teenagers who begin smoking are likely to remain addicted to nicotine throughout their lives. Smoking also produces negative effects for people other than the smoker. Smoking during pregnancy substantially reduces birth weight, and low birth weight is strongly associated with infant mortality and illness.