World No Tobacco Day is May 31.
The National Council on Drug Abuse joins with the World Health Organization (WHO), Heart Foundation Jamaica and the Ministry of Health to celebrate WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY.
WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY is celebrated each year on May 31 to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use and for advocating for effective policies to reduce consumption. It provides an opportunity to highlight specific tobacco control messages and to promote adherence to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
The theme for the international celebrations this year is “TOBBACCO INDUSTRY INTERFERNACE ‘to expose and counter the tobacco industry’s brazen and increasingly aggressive attempts to undermine the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) because of the serious danger they pose to public health.
According to WHO, tobacco use is the second cause of death globally (after hypertension) and is currently responsible for killing one in 10 adults worldwide.
In Jamaica, prevalence of tobacco use among students in Grades 7-10 has increased from 37% in 2006 to 44% in 2010. The data show that the percentage of increase in prevalence of smoking is higher among females. The National Council on Drug Abuse therefore also focusing our prevention and awareness efforts for this day on females. Locally we will be emphasizing the danger of smoking on Women.
Our theme: 2 Smart 2 Start = Drug Free 4 Life
There will be several events held across the island co- ordinated by the staff and advocates of the Drug Abuse Secretariat.