American Cancer Society-supported Tobacco Control Report, Expert Cited in Lancet Article

In the latest edition of The Lancet, a leading global medical journal, an article on smoke-free laws in Africa references an American Cancer Society-supported report and a Society staff member. The article warns that Africa may see a large increase in tobacco use in the next several decades unless effective tobacco control efforts are established on the continent now, including the passage of comprehensive smoke-free laws by governments. The article references information from the 2009 status report Global Voices: Rebutting the Tobacco Industry, Winning Smokefree Air, published by the Global Smokefree Partnership, which is supported by the American Cancer Society. The report indicates that African countries are likely to see the highest increase in the rate of tobacco use among developing countries, but also points out encouraging trends such as the willingness of several African countries to fight the tobacco industry’s “aggressive efforts” to stop tobacco control. The article includes a prediction from economist Evan Blecher, International Tobacco Control Research Program, American Cancer Society, that tobacco consumption will double in sub-Saharan Africa in the next 12 to 13 year without major policy interventions. He argues that consumption is mainly driven by economic development and says “As income rises, so does tobacco consumption (nearly on a one-to-one basis) and developing countries are growing rapidly. China and India are growing at more than 8% a year and the average economic growth in Africa is 5% a year.” To read the full text of the Lancet article (site registration is required), click on this link.