World No-Tobacco Day: Theme, Quotes, Objectives and History

Every year 8-million people around the world lose their life due to tobacco, tells the WHO reports. Tobacco is the largest preventable cause of death and disease in the US and many other countries. And unfortunately, the prime target of tobacco manufacturing industries is the Youths. 31st May is observed as World No Tobacco Day around the globe to make people aware of the deadly impacts of tobacco.

Objectives Behind World No-Tobacco Day

World No Tobacco Day is being observed since 1987. Though the main objective is to fight the ‘tobacco epidemic’ there are many aspects related to the fight. The main objectives of the day can be classified as follows –

• Create awareness about the dangers and ill-effects of tobacco and nicotine products, especially among the youths
• Create counter-marketing campaigns against the tobacco industry that deliberately and aggressively attracts youth towards tobacco and other nicotine products
• Make people aware of the tactics and business practices of tobacco companies
• Make people aware about different diseases caused due to tobacco and nicotine addiction
• Inform the general public about the efforts of WHO to fight the tobacco epidemic
• Promote healthy living and protect the future generation from the ill effects of tobacco and nicotine products

World No-Tobacco Day Themes

For a special day dedicated to a cause, it is common that each year the day is observed around a particular theme. Following are the World No-Tobacco Day themes:

World No-Tobacco Day 2021 Theme – Commit to Quit

In the situation of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, WHO is urging people to take a pledge to quit the use of tobacco and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

2020 – Tobacco Exposed: The Secret’s out

The Anti-Tobacco campaign of 2020 focused on informing people about the devious tactics employed by the tobacco industry to attract the younger generation. WHO reported that around 8-million people are killed every year by tobacco.

2019 – Tobacco and Lung Health

The focus of World No Tobacco Day 2019 was to spread awareness about the ill effects of tobacco on the lung health. It also focused on the harmfulness of second-hand smoke exposure.

2018 – Tobacco and Heart Diseases

The focus of the 2018 anti-tobacco campaign was on spreading awareness about the link between tobacco and cardiovascular diseases.

2017 – Tobacco: a threat to development

The 2017 campaign focused on demonstrating how the tobacco industry poses threat to the sustainable development of all the countries.

2016 – Get Ready for Plain Packaging

In 2016, WHO advocated for the plain packaging of tobacco products so as to reduce attractiveness for the younger generation. National governments were urged to put restrictions on the advertisement and promotion of tobacco products.

Key Facts about Tobacco Epidemic

WHO calls it the ‘tobacco epidemic’ because millions of people die every year due to tobacco and nicotine products. The number is currently increasing despite all the efforts.

Marketing strategies of the tobacco industry aggressively attract the younger generation towards tobacco products. Studies have shown that most people start using tobacco products in their teenage and later get addicted to them. People intake tobacco in various forms including cigarettes, bidi, hookah, cigar, sheesha, kretek, snuff, e-cigarettes, vaping, tobacco-chewing etc.

It is estimated that half of the tobacco users die due to tobacco-related diseases. These deaths are preventable by reducing the use of tobacco. Among the millions killed by tobacco, many are non-smokers who die due to exposure to second-hand smoke.

Ill Effects of Tobacco on Human Health

Tobacco causes many health issues including lung diseases, heart diseases, stroke and many kinds of cancer. Diseases caused due to tobacco and nicotine products are among the leading causes of death worldwide.

Low emotional stability and risk-taking behaviors are more common in tobacco users. This may also lead to mental disorders like depression.
Smokeless tobacco i.e. chewing of tobacco is the leading cause of cancer of the oral cavity. Other forms of cancer associated with tobacco are – cancer of the respiratory tract, upper gastrointestinal tract, lungs, liver, pancreas, kidney, urinary bladder, nasal cavity, cervix cancer etc.
As stated earlier, tobacco does not pose a threat of diseases and death to the person abusing it but also affects others around the tobacco users. If a pregnant woman uses tobacco, it badly affects the fetus in the womb. People living around a smoker are always at risk due to exposure to second-hand smoke.

Tobacco use can damage every part of the body!