Tobacco Cessation: A Review

Abstract

Tobacco use is one of the biggest public health threats. Tobacco use is clearly a big hazard in terms of its magnitude and use in different forms. There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco, as users can experience health consequences at any age. Globally, it accounts for 8 million deaths every year, among which 1.3 million are due to second-hand smoking. It also has heavy social and economic burdens. Tobacco is the most important preventable cause of death and disease among adults. The burden of tobacco-related illness and death is heaviest in low- and middle-income countries, due to a lack of public awareness, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and weak regulatory interventions. Most of the tobacco users who become aware of the dangers of tobacco-use want to quit. However, the nicotine present in tobacco products is highly addictive and makes it difficult to quit. Without proper cessation support, hardly 4% of users who attempt to quit tobacco use will succeed. Tobacco cessation in the adult population is essential to accelerate the reduction in smoking-related morbidity and mortality.