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Recession may boost smoking

Posted on: Monday, 16 March 2009, 00:40 CDT

The recession will most likely do nothing to reduce the use of tobacco worldwide, U.S. researchers said.

Michael Eriksen, director of Georgia State's Institute of Public Health, said in an economic downturn, products seen as giving comfort amid stress tend to sell very well. In the United States and abroad, tobacco is no exception.

It's not well understood, but as people lose jobs, the unemployed and others affected by tough economic times may rely on 'affordable pleasures,' Eriksen said in a statement. The irony is that the more deprived someone is, people will rely on simple pleasures that are unfortunately deadly pleasures.

The third edition of The Tobacco Atlas -- a comprehensive picture of global tobacco use, regulations, financial costs and health tolls co-authored by Eriksen -- reported that positive changes include the relatively rapid ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the world's first public health treaty developed by the World Health Organization.

The treaty obligates signatories to commit to actions such as advertising bans and indoor clean air laws to stem tobacco use, illness and death, Eriksen said.

Source: United Press International

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