Tobacco use

Publications Events/Webinars External resources

Tobacco use is a global health problem with 1.13 billion smokers and 8 million deaths annually, including 1.2 million from second-hand smoke. It is a burden on individuals, communities and economies, causing various diseases and preventable deaths. Tobacco is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes.

The negative effects of tobacco use on health are well documented. However, giving up tobacco and quitting can be a challenging process, but the journey towards a tobacco-free life can be made easier with the right support. Pharmacists have an important role to play in helping tobacco users quit and remain abstinent. Pharmacists’ expertise and accessibility ensure they are ideal providers of evidence-based advice, medication and support to those who want to break their addiction to and dependence on tobacco.

Publications

Supporting tobacco cessation and the treatment of tobacco dependence: A handbook for pharmacists (2023)

This handbook has been developed as a comprehensive and practical resource for pharmacists to support individuals in their efforts to quit tobacco, emphasising the critical role of pharmacists in providing comprehensive and coordinated care to patients seeking to quit. It covers the latest evidence-based practices, techniques and strategies to help our patients quit and not start again. The information contained in this handbook is practicable and tailored to the needs of pharmacists working in the field. By using the information and strategies outlined in the handbook, pharmacists can contribute to improving public health and reducing the burden of tobacco use on healthcare systems.

 

This publication is available in the following languages:

 

English

French

Spanish

Turkish

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FIP knowledge and skills reference guide for professional development in tobacco cessation and other risk factors in NCDs: A companion to the FIP Supporting tobacco cessation and the treatment of tobacco dependence: A handbook for pharmacists (2023)

The “Supporting tobacco cessation and the treatment of tobacco dependence: A handbook for pharmacists” is accompanied by a publication describing the knowledge and skills required for the delivery of pharmacist-led interventions to support tobacco cessation in addition to other modifiable NCD risk factors such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and harmful use of alcohol.

 

This publication is available in the following languages:

 

English

French

Spanish

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FIP HOLDING STATEMENT ON THE USE OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES: The health and economic impact of e-cigarette use, and the contribution of the pharmacy workforce to its elimination (2023)

In light of the increasing use of e-cigarettes, particularly among young people, and concerns around the safety of these products, the FIP Bureau has issued a Holding Statement on the health and economic impact of e-cigarette use, and the contribution of the pharmacy workforce to its elimination.

The statement has been developed by FIP staff and the co-chairs of FIP’s policy committee on tobacco cessation, in collaboration with Bureau members and in consultation with the World Health Organization (WHO).

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Establishing tobacco-free communities: A practical guide for pharmacists (2015)

This briefing document presents an overview of the different tobacco cessation activities pharmacists are involved in, and aims to support pharmacists to take an even more prominent role during the World No Tobacco Day, which is devoted to the international fight against tobacco.

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The Role of the Pharmacist in Promoting a Future Free of Tobacco (2003)

This statement supports and advocates for pharmacists to take relevant action to eliminate tobacco use in the communities that they serve.

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Events/Webinars

The role of pharmacists in tobacco cessation

May 31, 2023

Tobacco use is a global health problem with 1.13 billion smokers and 8 million deaths annually, including 1.2 million from second-hand smoke. It is a burden on individuals, communities and economies, causing various diseases and preventable deaths. Tobacco is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. At this event, FIP will launch a new handbook to support pharmacists and their organisations in providing a range of tobacco cessation services. This will be accompanied by a reference guide identifying the knowledge and skills pharmacists need to provide such services.

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Leveraging the role of pharmacists in tobacco cessation in Jordan

August 3, 2023

Tobacco use is a global health problem with 1.13 billion smokers and 8 million deaths annually, including 1.2 million from second-hand smoke. Jordan ranks as the fourteenth country globally with the highest rate of smokers, which represent 34.8% of the population.1 It is a burden on individuals, communities and economies, causing various diseases and preventable deaths. Tobacco is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. At this event, FIP will present a new handbook to support pharmacists and their organizations in providing a range of tobacco cessation services. This will be accompanied by a reference guide identifying the knowledge and skills pharmacists need to provide such services.

This event was organised by Jordan Pharmacists Association (JPA) in collaboration with International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and World Health Organization (WHO).

1 Data from: Smoking Rates by Country. https://wisevoter.com/country-rankings/smoking-rates-by-country/#jordan

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Leveraging the role of pharmacists in tobacco cessation in India

August 10, 2023

Tobacco use is a global health problem with 1.13 billion smokers and 8 million deaths annually, including 1.2 million from second-hand smoke. With a smoking prevalence of 27.2%, India is the thirty-seventh country with the highest smoking prevalence. It is a burden on individuals, communities and economies, causing various diseases and preventable deaths. Tobacco is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes.

This digital event was organised by the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) in collaboration with the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). During the webinar, the FIP presented the two new publications on tobacco cessation: “Supporting tobacco cessation and the treatment of tobacco dependence: A handbook for pharmacists” and the “Knowledge and skills reference guide for professional development in tobacco cessation and other risk factors in NCDs”.

Coming Soon

External resources

WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030

Progress in reducing tobacco use is a key indicator for measuring countries’ efforts to implement the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control – target 3.a under the Sustainable Development Goals agenda. Countries have adopted this indicator to report progress also towards the tobacco reduction target under the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2013–2020 and the WHO’s Global Programme of Work triple billions target. This report presents WHO estimates of tobacco use prevalence for 2022, numbers of users, and trends projected to 2030. Estimates are at global, regional and country-level.

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WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic 2023

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Tobacco and noncommunicable diseases (WHO)

  • There are 1.3 billion tobacco users around the world. Half of them will die from a tobacco-related disease.
  • Most of the deaths and disabilities attributable to tobacco are due to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases. The main types of NCD are cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attack and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.
  • Tobacco use is one of the major risk factors for NCDs.
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