World No Tobacco Day

According to the WHO, 300,000 people die every year because of the effects of tobacco smoking. Smokers with long experience are practically doomed to serious health problems, because few of them take into account the fact that tobacco smoke, in addition to harmful nicotine, contains about 200 especially poisonous substances such as carbon monoxide, ammonia, hydrocyanic acid, hydrogen sulfide and others. The number of those killed by smoking-related illnesses is higher than those who die from road accidents, drug use, or AIDS. Therefore, the main task is to raise the level of self-awareness of people who need to take care of their health.

Most countries in the world are actively fighting tobacco. In the Belgian region of Flanders it is proposed to impose a EUR 1,000 fine on those smoking in cars in the presence of children. Switzerland plans to ban smoking at train stations by the end of 2018. Thailand has already banned smoking on 24 popular beaches, and offenders are fined or even imprisoned. In 2017, the number of smokers in France decreased by one million people, largely due to rising tobacco prices. Ukraine also has positive experience in reducing the prevalence of smoking by 20% among the adult population over the past seven years due to growing tobacco prices.

Since the issue of smoking is extremely relevant for Ukraine, this year, as part of World No Tobacco Day and for the purpose of spreading information on the dangers of smoking, a run "Ukraine Without Tobacco" was held in five cities of Ukraine on May 19.

So today is the day when it is necessary to pay attention to the problem of tobacco smoking and protect a healthy lifestyle and clean air without tobacco smoke.