Smoking: a Global Perspective on New Challenges

Abstract

Smoking is the deadliest health challenge humanity has ever faced. The original peoples of America smoked tobacco and it was shipped to the rest of the world since the 16th century. But only after the industrial development of cigarettes 1n 1880, cigarette accessibility and consumption increased exponentially resulting in the current health consequences. Nicotine addiction is key for smoking, but the health effects are perceived as collateral consequences of the most effective route to administer nicotine. There are two dimensions to the problem to be considered: the tobacco business and the health impact. In the 20th century, the tobacco industry
emerged as a global player with technology development, aggressive marketing, and promotion. The public health response between the 1950s and the end of the twentieth century, initially highlighting the consequences on the health of smokers and then with concrete health actions. In 2003, the FCTC enters into force, with polished proposals to control smoking globally. Concurrently, electronic nicotine delivery devices (ENDS) were launched in the market, circumventing tobacco control restrictions and appealing to young people. Its promoters, including the tobacco industry, present it as harmless and effective in quitting smoking. Latin America, which has been at the forefront of tobacco control, now faces the emerging global challenges of tobacco and the SARS-Cov2 pandemic simultaneously.