Smoking and smoking cessation in Latin America: a review of the current situation and available treatments

Abstract

Tobacco smoking is a growing problem throughout Latin American countries, especially in underdeveloped countries where poverty and lack of education about the dangers of smoking may make people more susceptible to becoming smokers. Moreover, the economies of many Latin American countries have become dependent on the production of tobacco. Furthermore, because of the associated promotion of tobacco, smoking has integrated into many Latin American cultures. Nevertheless, the harmful health effects of tobacco use are well documented, including greatly increased risks of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, and many forms of cancer. The medical costs associated with treating these diseases far outweigh the economic benefits of producing and selling this deadly crop. To control the tobacco pandemic in Latin American countries, nicotine addiction must be recognized and treated as a disease. Governments, both national and local, need to be more involved in enacting anti-smoking policies such as higher tobacco taxation, control of illegal tobacco smuggling, and reimbursement of medical smoking cessation interventions. The training of health professions in the area of nicotine addiction must also be improved, so that they may better assist smokers in their quit attempts and advise patients on, and prescribe, effective smoking cessation pharmacotherapies.

Knowledge of and practices related to smoking cessation among physicians in Nigeria

“…Such a lack of emphasis has also been reported by other investigators. (18)(19)(20) These outcomes underscore the need to give priority to smoking cessation education in the medical school and continuing education programs after graduation. A significant proportion of physicians reported asking their patients about tobacco use, which is higher than the 44-48% reported in other studies.…”

Neighborhood Social Cohesion and Smoking among Legal and Unauthorized Brazilian Migrants in Metropolitan Boston

“…29 Brazil is the second largest tobacco producer in the world and home to a thriving illegal tobacco trade. 30 Furthermore, tobacco smoking in Latin America has recently been called "pandemic" 31 and appears to be on the rise, particularly among young women. Nevertheless, thanks in part to countrywide smoke-free policies beginning in the 1990s, 31 the smoking prevalence rate in Brazil (18 %) is estimated to be similar to that in the USA (17 %), and a smaller percentage of women compared to men in Brazil smoke (13 and 22 %).…”

“…30 Furthermore, tobacco smoking in Latin America has recently been called "pandemic" 31 and appears to be on the rise, particularly among young women. Nevertheless, thanks in part to countrywide smoke-free policies beginning in the 1990s, 31 the smoking prevalence rate in Brazil (18 %) is estimated to be similar to that in the USA (17 %), and a smaller percentage of women compared to men in Brazil smoke (13 and 22 %). So, it is unclear how having previously resided in Brazil may influence current smoking among Brazilian immigrants in metropolitan Boston, but it is interesting that, according to analysis of the 2007 BM-IHLSS data, the smoking prevalence of Brazilian immigrants in metropolitan Boston (17.7 %) falls just between estimates for Brazil and the USA.…”

Prevalence of respiratory symptoms associated with outdoor and indoor air pollution in Bogota 2012

“…In Bogotá is not known the burden of disease in children from passive smoking, but the high prevalence of second-hand smoke (25%) is preoccupying. Although Colombia signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the taxes on smoking are very low in the country and it is well known that health expenditure associated with smoking is four times more than collection of taxes from tobacco industry [20]. Smoking consumption is very sensitive to price elasticity as low-income populations reduce consumption with tax policies.…”