Framing Progress In Global Tobacco Control To Inform Action On Noncommunicable Diseases

• Published in: Health Affairs Vol. 34; no. 9; pp. 1480 - 1488
• Main Authors: Wipfli, Heather L, Samet, Jonathan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The People to People Health Foundation, Inc., Project HOPE 01.09.2015
• Subjects: 20th century; Addictions; Alcohol; Alcohol use; Benefits; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - physiopathology; Chronic Disease - epidemiology; Cigarettes; Consumers; Consumption; Diet; Disease; Diseases; Epidemics; Female; Food; Genetics; Global Health; Humans; Infectious diseases; International; International business enterprises; Lung cancer; Male; Markets; Minors; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Neoplasms - physiopathology; NGOs; Nicotine; Nongovernmental organizations; Nutrition; Physical fitness; Public Health; Quality Improvement; Respiratory Tract Diseases - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Diseases - physiopathology; Risk; Risk Assessment; Risk factors; Smoking; Smoking - adverse effects; Smoking Cessation - methods; Smoking Cessation - statistics & numerical data; Smoking Prevention; Studies; Tobacco; Tobacco industry; Tobacco Use Disorder - epidemiology; Public Health; Tobacco/Smoking; International/global health studies
• ISSN: 0278-2715; 1544-5208
• DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0361

Much has been learned about the tobacco epidemic, including its consequences, effective measures to control it, and the actors involved. This article identifies lessons learned that are applicable to the other principal external causes of noncommunicable diseases: alcohol abuse, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity. Among these lessons are the development of evidence-based strategies such as proven cessation methods, tax increases, and smoke-free policies; the role of multinational corporations in maintaining markets and undermining control measures; and the need for strategies that reach across the life course and that begin with individuals and extend to higher levels of societal organization. Differences are also clear. Tobacco products are relatively homogeneous and have no direct benefit to consumers, whereas food and alcohol consumed in moderation are not inherently dangerous. Some tobacco-related diseases have the singular predominant cause of smoking, while many noncommunicable diseases have multiple interlocking causes such as poor diet, excess alcohol consumption, insufficient physical activity, and smoking, along with genetics. Thus, the tobacco control model of comprehensive multilevel strategies is applicable to the control of noncommunicable diseases, but the focus must be on multiple risk factors.