8 million deaths each year due to tobacco

Tobacco causes more than 8 million deaths globally each year, including nearly 7 million direct users and approximately 1.2 million passive smokers.

On the morning of May 27th, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan announced this information at a rally in response to World No Tobacco Day on May 31st. This figure is an increase compared to 2019, when the medical journal The Lancet reported that approximately 7.69 million people die each year due to smoking. In Vietnam, at least 40,000 people lose their lives to tobacco every year.

According to Deputy Minister Thuan, smoking is a factor that increases the risk of respiratory infections as well as the severity of respiratory diseases. In addition, smoking is also a leading cause of diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Tobacco use also causes economic losses, including expenses for smoking; medical examination and treatment costs; reduced or lost productivity due to illness and premature death.

In Vietnam, the percentage of male smokers decreased from 45.3% (2015) to 42.3% (2020). Notably, the rate of passive smoking also decreased significantly in locations such as workplaces, educational institutions, on public transport, and indoors.

The rate of tobacco use among young people aged 15-24 decreased from 26% in 2015 to 13% in 2020. Among students aged 13-15, the smoking rate decreased from 2.5% in 2014 to 1.9% in 2022.

However, Vietnam remains among the countries with the highest number of smokers in the world. Recently, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and shisha have appeared throughout the country. These products are not yet permitted for import, sale, or distribution, but their buying, selling, and advertising are widespread, especially online.

Electronic cigarettes are designed in a variety of styles and flavors that are very appealing to young people, leading to a rapid increase in their use, especially among school-aged children.

"If we do not continue to implement strong and timely measures to combat the harmful effects of tobacco, then tobacco use rates will increase again," the deputy minister said, adding that the health and economic losses from e-cigarette use are just as serious as those from traditional cigarettes.

In addition, the widespread availability of cheap cigarettes with low taxes also makes them more accessible and reduces the effectiveness of smoking cessation efforts.

Cycling in support of World No Tobacco Day on May 31st. Photo: Le Hao

Vietnam aims to reduce the rate of tobacco use among men aged 15 and over to below 36% and among women aged 15 and over to below 1% by 2030.

According to Dr. Angela Pratt, Head of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam, much work remains to be done to achieve this goal. A very high priority is increasing taxes and prices because cigarette prices in Vietnam are currently among the cheapest in the world. At the same time, it is necessary to prevent and control the use of new tobacco products.

Le Nga

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