by InTrieste
In a timely release ahead of World No Tobacco Day, Italy’s Higher Institute of Health (ISS) has unveiled new data highlighting the nation’s smoking habits. The findings reveal that one in four adults in Italy currently smokes, with the prevalence significantly higher among young people, where the figure rises to one in three.
The report, a comprehensive assessment of smoking trends over the past decade and a half, shows a modest but notable decline in adult smoking rates. Since 2008, the proportion of adult smokers has decreased from 30 percent to 24 percent. Despite this progress, ISS President Rocco Bellantone emphasizes that the reduction is insufficient. “In the last 15 years, the percentage of smokers has decreased, but too slowly. This process must be accelerated by focusing on prevention, which must start from schools,” Bellantone stated.
Among the Italian population aged 18 to 69, the majority do not smoke (59 percent) or have successfully quit (17 percent). However, the report raises concerns about smoking among youth. Over 30 percent of individuals aged 18-25 use some form of tobacco or nicotine product, including traditional cigarettes, heated tobacco products, or electronic cigarettes. Alarmingly, almost one in three teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17 reported using a tobacco or nicotine product within the last 30 days.
The ease with which teens can purchase tobacco products is particularly troubling. The survey indicates that most underage users buy tobacco in person at bars or tobacconists. Parental awareness and tolerance of these habits, especially regarding electronic devices, exacerbate the issue. Approximately one in three parents are aware of their children’s tobacco use and often exhibit greater leniency towards electronic cigarettes compared to traditional ones.
The theme for this year’s World No Tobacco Day, “advocating for an end to the targeting of youth with harmful tobacco products,” resonates strongly with the ISS findings. The data underscores the urgent need for stricter measures to shield young people from the influence of the tobacco industry.
Gender disparities in smoking habits are also evident, with 28 percent of men and 21 percent of women being smokers. The habit is more widespread among individuals facing economic hardships, those with lower educational attainment, and residents in central-southern regions of Italy.
The report notes a gradual shift in smoking preferences, with a decline in the exclusive use of traditional cigarettes (from 25 percent in 2014 to 20 percent in 2023) and an increase in the use of both cigarettes and electronic devices.
The health and economic toll of smoking remains substantial in Italy. Smoking-related deaths exceed 93,000 annually, imposing an economic burden of over €26 billion each year, according to Alessandro Miani, president of the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA).
Since 2005, Italy has enforced a ban on smoking in public places, including bars, restaurants, and offices, reflecting its ongoing commitment to reducing smoking rates and associated harms.
As World No Tobacco Day approaches, these new insights from the ISS serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in combating tobacco use, particularly among the younger population. The call for enhanced preventive measures and stricter enforcement of existing regulations is louder than ever.
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