New WHO guidelines to help millions quit tobacco


These recommendations are expected to benefit more than 750 million adults who want to quit using all forms of tobacco, including cigarettes, waterpipes, smokeless tobacco products, cigars, roll-your-own tobacco, and heated tobacco products.

“This guideline is an important milestone in our global fight against these dangerous products,” said World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“It provides countries with the tools they need to effectively support individuals to quit tobacco and reduce the global burden of tobacco-related diseases,” he said.

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While 750 million tobacco users – representing 60 percent of the world’s 1.25 billion tobacco users – want to quit smoking, most of them do not have access to services to help them do so due to resource limitations and other health system challenges.

Rudiger Krech, the World Health Organization's director of health promotion, stressed that the difficulties people face when trying to quit smoking should not be exaggerated.

“We must have a deep appreciation for the strength needed to overcome this addiction, and the suffering endured by individuals and their loved ones,” Dr. Krech said. “These guidelines are designed to help communities and governments provide the best possible support and assistance for those on this challenging journey.”

treatment options

In its guidelines, the World Health Organization presents a combination of pharmacotherapy and behavioral interventions, which can significantly increase the success rate of quitting smoking.

It encouraged countries to make these treatments available free or at low cost to improve access, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Treatments include medications such as varenicline, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), bupropion, and cytisine.

For behavioural intervention, the World Health Organisation recommends a brief counselling session with a health worker in a healthcare setting – lasting from 30 seconds to three minutes.

More intensive care options include individual, group, or phone counseling sessions.

“Additionally, digital interventions such as text messaging, smartphone apps, and internet programmes can be used as assistive or self-management tools,” the WHO said.

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