Protecting Youth From Tobacco Around the Globe: Evidence to Practice.
Friday, September 18, 2020
Posted by: Natalia Gromov
Indu B. Ahluwalia, Karen Wilson and Julie Gorzkowski
Protecting Youth From Tobacco Around the Globe: Evidence to Practice.
Pediatrics September 2020, e20201585; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-1585
Tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure are harmful to development and have significant health risks across the life span, including asthma, respiratory infections, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Most adults begin smoking during adolescence, highlighting the importance of clinical and public health interventions to prevent tobacco use and encourage youth cessation. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Global Youth Tobacco Surveys (GYTS) from 61 countries reveal that a substantial number of youth report current cigarette smoking (mean prevalence: 10.7%, range: 1.7%–35%), and greater than 50% of young smokers wish to quit. Globally, GYTS data indicate that youth who have never used tobacco products are susceptible to begin using them. Global efforts to protect youth against such vulnerabilities are critical to ensure future tobacco-free generations. In this report, a partnership between CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics highlights how strategic relationships can foster change.
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