AS CANADIANS BUTT OUT, THE DEVELOPING-WORLD LIGHTS UP

Although rates of tobacco smoking in Canada have dropped dramatically over the last 30 years this is not a global trend. For every tonne of tobacco that Canadian adults gave up between 1970 and 1990, aggressive marketing by multinational tobacco companies has ensured that an addi tional 20 tonnes is now consumed in developing countries. The authors describe the dilemma faced by policymakers in their efforts to control the epidemic of tobacco smoking in the developing world: although tob acco consumption leads to increased rates of mortality and morbidity a nd lost productivity, its production creates employment, generates tax revenue and earns foreign exchange. Canadian experience has proved th at trends in tobacco consumption can be reversed through policies that address not only health issues but also economic, social and agricult ural concerns. The authors propose a framework for harnessing expertis e in the service of worldwide tobacco control.