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WHO Unveils Groundbreaking Tobacco Cessation Guidelines
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its initial guideline dedicated to tobacco cessation, outlining an extensive array of interventions. These include behavioral support from healthcare professionals, digital resources for quitting, and pharmacological treatments aimed at curbing tobacco use.
This guideline is particularly important for the over 750 million individuals globally who use tobacco and are eager to quit. It addresses all adults looking to stop using various forms of tobacco products such as cigarettes, water pipes, smokeless tobacco variants, cigars, roll-your-own options, and heated tobacco devices (HTPs).
The Importance of New Guidelines
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General emphasized the significance of this guideline in the ongoing fight against harmful tobacco products: “This initiative equips nations with vital resources necessary to aid individuals in their journey towards quitting smoking while reducing the global burden posed by diseases related to tobacco.”
A staggering 60% of the world’s 1.25 billion smokers—over 750 million people—desire to quit; however, an alarming 70% do not have access to effective cessation services due to systemic health challenges and limited resources.
Understanding the Challenges
“The difficulty faced by those trying to break free from nicotine addiction cannot be underestimated,” stated Dr. Rüdiger Krech, WHO’s Director of Health Promotion. “It’s essential we recognize the immense willpower needed and acknowledge the distress experienced by both individuals battling addiction and their loved ones,” he affirmed. “These guidelines aim at empowering communities and governments in providing optimal support during this challenging process.”
Therapeutic Approaches for Quitting Tobacco
Merging medication with behavioral strategies greatly enhances success rates in quitting smoking. Nations are advised to offer these services either free or at a reduced cost—especially pertinent for low- and middle-income countries—to foster better accessibility.
The WHO suggests several efficacious treatments such as varenicline, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), bupropion, and cytisine for those seeking cessation.
In a significant move towards improving access globally in 2023, WHO launched a prequalification initiative for medicinal products addressing health issues stemming from tobacco consumption. By April 2024, Kenvue’s nicotine gum and patch received approval as the first NRTs prequalified by WHO.
Behavioral Strategies that Work
The organization advocates routine short counseling sessions led by healthcare workers lasting between 30 seconds up to three minutes within medical environments alongside more extensive behavioral intervention options such as individual or group therapy sessions conducted via phone or direct counseling sessions available for interested users. Digital aids like SMS reminders often paired with mobile applications or online programs can also serve supplementary roles or act as self-help methods.
A Call To Action
WHO urges healthcare practitioners along with policymakers across different sectors worldwide embrace these guidelines actively promoting efforts that enhance cigarette cessation initiatives thereby improving public health outcomes on a global scale.
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