In addition, the risks of tobacco use are underestimated by the public, and even by many of those who are responsible for protecting and promoting public health. For these reasons, lenient tobacco policies have been allowed to continue, and many of those who could promote tobacco control effectively do nothing. Fortunately, there are also increasing numbers of committed individuals, groups, and governments around the world who have achieved commendable successes in the area of tobacco control. These successes are responsible for reducing premature deaths and enriching the quality of life of countless individuals and societies. They prove that it is possible to change the course of public health history.
Serious problems require serious solutions.
Tobacco use affects all individuals and societies. Millions of people will die prematurely as a result of tobacco use. Millions more will suffer needlessly from a tobacco-related disease. Others will suffer discomfort, ill health or even death, as a result of their involuntary exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Governments will spend thousands of millions of dollars to treat tobacco-related diseases, while additional thousands of millions of dollars are lost when productive lives are cut short by tobacco use.