Every year, smoking and tobacco use remain a leading cause of chronic diseases worldwide. While some may view it as an enticing experience, the reality behind it is a massive toll on human health — claiming over 7 million lives per year, with approximately 1.2 billion tobacco users worldwide. Furthermore, second-hand smoke causes more than 1.6 million additional deaths annually, demonstrating that the burden of tobacco-related disease extends far beyond smokers themselves to those around them and society at large.

Why Do We Get Addicted to Cigarettes? “Nicotine” Is the Answer

The primary reason quitting smoking is so difficult is nicotine — a highly addictive substance that acts on the central nervous system. Nicotine stimulates the release of dopamine in the brain’s reward pathway, rapidly producing feelings of pleasure and positive reinforcement.

With continued use, the brain adapts and develops nicotine dependence. When use is stopped, withdrawal symptoms emerge — including irritability, anxiety, fatigue, or intense cravings to smoke. This is why so many tobacco users find it impossible to quit, even when fully aware of the health consequences.

Over the past decade, the tobacco industry has developed new product formats, such as e-cigarettes and Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs), which are often marketed as “safer” or more “modern” alternatives. However, evidence confirms that these products still release toxic substances harmful to health, including highly addictive nicotine, particularly among young people.

Furthermore, the trend of using novel nicotine products continues to grow globally, with over 100 million users, reflecting the rapidly changing consumer landscape in today’s world.

Current Situation and Pathways Forward

Although global smoking prevalence has been declining — from approximately 1.38 billion people in 2000 to around 1.2 billion in 2024 — approximately 1 in 5 adults still use tobacco or nicotine products. At the same time, aggressive marketing by the tobacco industry, particularly communications targeting young people, continues to drive new users and sustain tobacco consumption in contemporary society.

In terms of policy, measures under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the MPOWER package have been confirmed as essential tools for reducing tobacco consumption at the population level. These consist of 6 core measures: Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies, Protect people from tobacco smoke, Offer help to quit tobacco use, Warn about the dangers of tobacco, Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, and Raise taxes on tobacco.

Evidence clearly demonstrates that these measures can effectively reduce smoking rates and related disease burden, with over 6.1 billion people worldwide now covered by at least one measure implemented at the highest standard. However, many countries still fall short of comprehensive or sufficiently robust implementation.

The allure of tobacco is no accident — it is engineered through the addictive properties of nicotine that trigger pleasure in the brain, and through messaging designed to make tobacco appear appealing. Looking deeper, tobacco is not merely something attractive; it conceals serious risks of addiction and long-term health consequences.

Join us on World No Tobacco Day, May 31, 2026, under the theme: “Unmasking the appeal – countering nicotine and tobacco addiction.” We invite everyone to look beyond the image and understand the truth: what appears attractive hides dangers to health and lasting addiction.

Keywords: #WorldNoTobaccoDay #NoTobacco #QuitSmoking

References

[1] World Health Organization. Tobacco [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2025 Jun 25 [cited 2026 Apr 10]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tobacco

[2] WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2024 and projections 2025-2030. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

[3] WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2025: warning about the dangers of tobacco. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

[4] World Health Organization. World No Tobacco Day 2026: Unmasking the appeal – countering nicotine and tobacco addiction [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2025 Oct 17 [cited 2026 Apr 1]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/17-10-2025-world-no-tobacco-day-2026--unmasking-the-appeal---countering-nicotine-and-tobacco-addiction