In other words, the treatments currently available save lives. We now have more effective treatments for tobacco dependence than have ever existed before. The problem is that these treatments have not been delivered to the people who need them, a situation that the World Health Organization intends to change. This group reviewed existing evidence for the effectiveness of treatment approaches to tobacco dependence, with particular attention to their applicability in developing countries. Some of the key points they felt should be included in the policy statement were the following.
Tobacco use kills millions of persons each year.
The disease and premature death associated with exposure to tobacco have an impact on communities and families worldwide. Although this epidemic is increasing, the trend can be reversed. For the majority of tobacco users, quitting is not simply a matter of choice. Tobacco products are highly addictive and are designed to undermine efforts to quit using them. However, safe and effective treatments exist which have been proven successful in helping smokers and other users overcome tobacco dependence.