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The Respiralia Group supports the Tobacco 21 campaign launched by the European Respiratory Society through the European Union.
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
In this Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the ERS encourages its members to support the “Tobacco 21” campaign and help Europe move towards the end of smoking.
The Respiralia Group develops the program “PrevAction: Get active in healthy habits” to raise awareness among new generations of the dangers of smoking, among others.
One of the bases of this program is to improve the environment of people with Cystic Fibrosis, so this campaign has our full support and we encourage many people and entities to do so through this link.
Increasing the minimum age for tobacco sales
The European Respiratory Society (ERS) strongly supports the Tobacco 21 campaign, which urges policymakers to take positive action against the uptake of smoking, by raising the tobacco age-of-sale to 21. ERS is marking this year’s Lung Cancer Awareness Month by encouraging members to show their support.
Diseases derived from smoking
Research shows that smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop lung cancer, as well as COPD, coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, infertility and many other conditions. Tobacco 21 policies help to protect a new generation from the dangers of tobacco smoking, and could serve as a crucial step in a tobacco endgame strategy.
Despite initiatives around the world to reduce the use of tobacco products amongst young people, such as restrictions in marketing and raising the minimum age of sale to 18 years old, smoking is still prevalent amongst those aged 18 and under
Scientific studies on the consequences of smoking
The average age to start smoking in EU countries is 16 years of age.
Across EU countries, more than one in six (18%) 15-year-olds reported having smoked cigarettes at least once in the past month in 2018. The average age at which tobacco consumption begins in Spain is 13 years of age, 18.4% of 14-year-old adolescents recognize that they smoke and this percentage rises to 43.7% at 18 years of age.
Data from the US Department of Health suggest that 90% of smokers begin smoking before 18 years of age.
The use of electronic nicotine delivery systems has dramatically increased over the past 10 years, particularly among young people.
Effects of nicotine on minors
The brains of children and adolescents are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of nicotine and nicotine addiction. The later an individual begins smoking, the less likely they are to smoke later in life.
Smokers are much more likely than non-smokers to develop lung cancer, COPD and other respiratory diseases, it is therefore crucial that we prevent tobacco use in young people to protect them from lifelong addiction and its extensive adverse health effects.
Established policies
Tobacco 21 policies have already been implemented in the USA, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Kuwait. New Zealand has gone further still by banning the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after 2009.
Studies conducted in the United States suggest that T21 policies have been effective:
- In Needham, Massachusetts, a greater reduction in past 30-day smoking among adolescents was recorded compared with adolescents in surrounding areas following the implementation of T21 law.
- Smoking rates among 18 to 20-year-olds in US metropolitan areas showed a 1.2% reduction post introduction of T21 laws.
- Survey data from Cleveland, Ohio reported a reduction in tobacco use among high-school children once T21 legislation was introduced.
- After implementation of T21 law in California in 2016, a purchase survey demonstrated a reduction in tobacco products sales among 15 to 16-year-olds.
Modelling suggests that increasing the legal age of tobacco products to 21 years in the USA will result in 50, 000 fewer deaths from lung cancer in people born between 2000 and 2019..
An analysis published in The Lancet found that tobacco use accounted for close to eight million deaths in 2019. As countries move towards ending the use of tobacco products, ERS urges its members to support and promote the adoption of Tobacco 21 policies.
More information and support for Tobacco 21
The Respiralia Group joins the Tobacco 21 campaign of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and encourages more people to do so.
You can find more information about the campaign here and support it from this link.
#TogetheragainstCF
