World No-Tobacco Day is an annual international event that
encourages governments, communities, and other groups to become
more aware of the hazards of tobacco use and requests all persons
who use tobacco to quit for at least 24 hours. This year's event
will be held May 31; the theme is "United for a Tobacco-Free World"
(1).
Tobacco use is expected to be the greatest risk factor for
death and disability in the world by 2020 (2). In 1990,
approximately 3 million deaths were attributed to tobacco use; by
2025, the annual number of tobacco-related deaths is projected to
reach 10 million, with 70% of deaths occurring in developing
countries (1). Efforts to reduce tobacco use require the
participation of all sectors of society and must be comprehensive
in scope. This year's event will highlight the complementary roles
of policies and programs at the local, national, and international
levels in achieving a tobacco-free world.
The World Health Organization (WHO), which is sponsoring this
year's event, will provide press releases, fact sheets, a poster,
and an advisory kit on comprehensive measures to reduce tobacco
use. Additional information is available from WHO on the Internet
(http://www.who.ch/programmes/psa/toh.htm), the WHO Regional Office
for the Americas (telephone {202} 974-3000), and from CDC's Office
on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion (http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco)
(telephone {770} 488-5705).
References
World Health Organization. World No-Tobacco Day, 31 May 1997
{Advisory kit}. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1996.
World Health Organization. Investing in health research and
development. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1996.
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