Smoking and tobacco use rates in the Pacific Islands match those in the Asia Pacific Region, the highest in the world. In Kiribati, more than 74 percent of women smoke or chew betel nut mixed with tobacco, the highest rate of women tobacco users globally. Statistics worldwide prove that smoking and chewing tobacco contribute to premature death and disease. By 2020, tobacco use will cause about one in six deaths globally. In addition to cancer rates, the incidence of lung and heart disease continue to rise.
Tobacco also costs dearly.
Surprisingly enough, tobacco is not indigenous to the Islands. Although, social and cultural traditions across the Pacific Islands have adopted smoking, communities are now realizing the negative impact tobacco has on their lives. The governments of the Pacific Islands, with the support of the World Health Organization's Western Pacific Region, are taking decisive actions to curb tobacco use and advertising. Fiji's Tobacco Control Bill became law in 1999. Tonga will soon implement its recently-passed Tobacco Control Bill, with the full support of officials including Tonga's King Taufa 'ahu Tupou IV, who has also called for a ban on tobacco advertising on the television.