Diseases and fatalities caused by combustible tobacco smoking have increased recently. Global figures show that the majority of deaths are due to smoking, including those who are not consumers but are exposed to tobacco smoke.
"Of the 8 million deaths that occur each year worldwide, 7,6 million are attributed solely to the consequences of secondhand smoke. 1,3 million deaths that occur annually are attributed solely to passive smoking, being in an environment with secondhand smoke," declared Roland Shuperka, an expert.
And when it comes to Albania, the expert sounds the alarm that we rank above the European average for tobacco consumption and this translates into more diseases.
"Smoking is 38,8%, taking all European levels, which are at lower levels of 22-23%. Smoking should not be joked about because it is all about morbidity, citizens who will occupy hospitals, lung diseases and cancer," the expert says.
Faced with this alarming situation, experts recommend switching to less harmful alternatives.
"World experts declare the transition from combustible products with smoke to less harmful products, which are products that only provide nicotine," says Shuperka.
Sweden is the first European country to switch to smokeless tobacco products, with only 5,3% of the population smoking, significantly reducing morbidity in the population.
(BalkanWeb)
