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NEWS: Vasiliy Vlassov Russia defies WHO antismoking convention by allowing misleading advertising BMJ 2008; 337: a2837 [Full text]

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Reducing Tobacco Smoking in Russia

Harald M Lipman   (9 December 2008)

Reducing Tobacco Smoking in Russia 9 December 2008
Harald M Lipman, Director ICHARM The Dutch House, 77a Fitzjohn's Avenue, London NW3 6NY Send response to journal: Re: Reducing Tobacco Smoking in Russia	Professor Vlassov highlights one of the many problems encountered worldwide when implementing solutions to public health problems. Looking specifically at Russia, as in many other countries, tobacco smoking is the single most important modifiable risk factor for CVD, Lung cancer and COPD. 25% of all deaths in Russia, equating to 500,000 deaths annually, are accounted for by tobacco smoking. 2% of the Russian population suffer from smoking-related illness. It has been estimated that there is a 15% loss of wages in smokers compared with non-smokers and a loss of 2% of Russia’s annual GDP is due to smoking related illness. Causative factors include cheap cigarettes, low levels of taxation on tobacco, widespread advertising, few restrictions on smoking in public places and cultural acceptance. Reduction in smoking levels depends on legislative measures, including restricting sales to minors, smoking bans in public places, bans on advertising and sponsorship, raising taxation and increasing awareness of the risks in the public and the medical profession. Neither the problems, nor the solutions, are confined to Russia, but are universal. WHO report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008 WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control 2005 Competing interests: Director, International Cardiac Healthcare & RiskFactor Modification (ICHARM)