Health policy fails in tobacco prevention
Published: Friday, Nov 3rd 2023, 12:31
Updated At: Saturday, Nov 4th 2023, 00:54
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Swiss health policy has failed when it comes to tobacco prevention. The tobacco lobby has caused this through blockades in parliament. With this criticism, Tobacco Prevention Switzerland is responding to the 2022 health survey, according to which 24% of the population smoke.
The tobacco epidemic is thus continuing, the Swiss Association for Tobacco Prevention announced on Friday. The absolute number of smokers and the health costs caused by smoking will continue to rise. The small percentage reductions would be wiped out by new nicotine products. This is not a success.
The organization questions whether the stated figures on the consumption of e-cigarettes and oral nicotine products reflect reality. In the last two years, sales of disposable e-cigarettes have exploded. Based on distributor data, Tobacco Prevention Switzerland cites growth of 2200 percent.
These products would appeal to a young and underage audience. The survey of almost ten thousand schoolchildren conducted in parallel to the health survey shows that 15-year-olds are already consuming e-cigarettes, the working group wrote.
According to the latest estimates from 2017, tobacco consumption costs health insurance companies three billion francs a year, the organization added. That is half of the addiction-related costs.
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