Combating nicotine and tobacco addiction
Quitting tobacco use enables the family to pay its loans
and enhances their spending on children's food, education, training, and health
May 31 of each year marks World No Tobacco Day, which calls for quitting tobacco use in all its forms. This year's theme is "Exposing Deception: Combating Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction." The theme reflects growing concern over the modern methods used by tobacco and nicotine companies to target individuals, especially adolescents and youth, through attractive marketing, a variety of flavors, and modern packaging.
Levels of Tobacco Use in Jordan
According to the national survey on tobacco use prevalence among those aged 15 years and over, more than half of Jordanians (53%) use tobacco in all its forms; 71% of users are male and the rest (29%) are female; 83% of users started using before the age of 24, of whom 38% started before the age of 18, with evidence of smoking in public places despite the existence of laws banning smoking in public places to protect public health.
The poorest segments use tobacco more than others
The National Strategy for Combating Tobacco and Smoking in All Its Forms (2024-2030) indicated that Jordanians with the lowest income are approximately the most likely to smoke cigarettes compared to those with the highest income, and that the poorest smokers spend on cigarettes 25 times more than they spend on health, 10 times more than they spend on education, and 1.5 times more than they spend on food.
Tobacco use affects the portion of household income allocated to food, education, and training
According to the national survey on tobacco use prevalence, the average monthly expenditure on cigarettes alone is 78 dinars per smoker. If a low-income household has more than one smoker, this expenditure will undoubtedly affect the family's ability to pay its loans, purchase food and medicine, spend on education and training, and even affect the availability of money to cover transportation costs to and from work, and consequently, regular attendance at work.
Tobacco use, ill health, and premature death
In 2022, 10,755 cancer cases were recorded in Jordan. The most common cancers among both sexes were breast cancer, followed by colorectal cancer, then lung cancer, lymphomas, and bladder cancer. It is worth noting that three of these most common cancers are closely linked to smoking[1]. Smoking is at the forefront of causes leading to increased cancer incidence. The annual cost of cancer treatment in Jordan is at least 350 million dinars and is expected to rise to over 500 million dinars in 2030[2].
Tobacco use in all its forms is one of the most prominent causes of disease and premature death, as it is associated with an increased risk of heart and arterial diseases, strokes, chronic respiratory diseases, and many types of cancer, in addition to its negative impact on quality of life and mental and physical health. The harm of tobacco also extends directly to affect the reproductive and sexual health of both men and women. Smoking can lead to decreased fertility, hormonal disorders, and increases the risks of delayed pregnancy, miscarriage, and pregnancy and childbirth complications for women, making tobacco control a health and developmental issue linked to protecting the family, improving reproductive health, and enhancing the quality of life for current and future generations.
Conclusion
Considering these alarming indicators, the Higher Population Council affirms that tobacco use does not only constitute a health burden but also represents an economic and social challenge that directly reflects on the living standards of individuals and families, especially among low-income groups. High spending on tobacco products often comes at the expense of basic needs such as food, education and training, and healthcare, and weakens the family's ability to improve its living conditions and invest in its children's future. The economic effects of smoking are further compounded by the chronic diseases it causes, which deplete family income and reduce individuals' productivity and ability to work, thereby exacerbating cycles of poverty and disease and negatively impacting social and economic development in general.
