Prof. Dr. Neşe Dursunoğlu, a faculty member of the Department of Chest Diseases at PAU Hospitals, stated the following in her remarks: “Tobacco products threaten the health of everyone not only those who use them, but also those exposed to their smoke and those affected through harmful residues remaining in the environment after use. These products cause the deaths of millions of people every year and rank among the leading causes of preventable diseases and deaths. Although awareness of the harms of tobacco use has increased, addiction continues on a global scale due to inadequacies in social, economic, and political regulations. According to OECD data, the size of the cigarette market reached USD 1 trillion 77.9 billion in 2022. The use of electronic cigarettes is increasing rapidly, especially among children and young people. In many countries, e-cigarette use among young people has surpassed that of adults. This situation poses a serious public health threat for future generations. The World Health Organization clearly states that urgent, strong, and determined measures must be taken to protect children and young people from the harms of electronic cigarettes.”

 

Prof. Dr. Neşe Dursunoğlu: “Electronic cigarette use poses a serious threat especially for children and young people.”

 

Stating that tobacco use is a multidimensional problem that not only affects individual health but also deepens poverty, increases health expenditures, reduces productivity, and causes major environmental damage, Prof. Dr. Dursunoğlu emphasized that 1.3 million people die every year due to passive exposure. Noting that millions of hectares of forest land are destroyed due to tobacco production and consumption, Prof. Dr. Neşe Dursunoğlu continued her remarks as follows: “All stages of the tobacco cycle harm human and environmental health. According to World Health Organization data, tobacco use causes the deaths of more than 8 million people each year. In our country, 31.6 percent of the population uses cigarettes; this rate is 44 percent among men and 19 percent among women. A large proportion of smokers want to quit, but cannot do so on their own due to nicotine addiction. Tobacco use is a treatable addiction. Evidence-based smoking cessation methods include cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacological treatments with proven effectiveness. These methods, offered through Smoking Cessation Clinics, significantly increase quitting success. 9 February Smoking Cessation Day is an important opportunity to make a start in quitting cigarettes and all tobacco products. Humanity needs health, food, and a clean environment, not tobacco. For ourselves and our loved ones, we can choose to get rid of this addiction today.”