Arantza Campo, Specialist in Pneumology, University of Navarra Clinic
Anti-smoking measures insufficient?
Smoking is one of today's major epidemics. In Europe, one in six people will die prematurely as a result of tobacco use. Tobacco is both harmful to health and addictive. test is that most smokers want to quit and only one in 10 who try without financial aid succeeds. Some smokers experience great difficulty in quitting, and it even appears that certain genes may predispose to nicotine addiction. These people will require financial aid drugs and follow-up and often several attempts.
The WHO has adopted the MPOWER plan, which aims to prevent smoking, reduce exhibition by creating smoke-free environments, and facilitate financial aid for cessation. In Spain, several tobacco control measures have been taken: banning advertising, promotion, sponsorship, and consumption in public places, raising taxes, etc. However, financial aid for smokers is insufficient. This should include counseling, evaluation of dependence, facilitating medication available and follow-up. There are effective smoking cessation drugs that do not receive subsidy.
Smoking cessation attendance should also address other factors that enhance the harm of smoking and smoking-related diseases. The financial aid for smoking cessation in people with respiratory, cardiovascular or tumor diseases is core topic to slow their progression. Personalized attention to the smoker makes it possible to identify the most difficult situations, attend to the Degree and subject dependence, advise, assess the need for treatment and identify other derived diseases. However, programs must be adapted to the possibilities of each place. All efforts are welcome.