TOBACCO PREVENTION IN THE FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA

The impact of tobacco-related illnesses in the Federal States of Micro nesia (FSM) is discussed and documented for the 1970-95 period using n ational government statistics and gleanings from the research literatu re, Based upon international data concerning tobacco-related morbidity and mortality it is estimated that 15% of 1993 FSM mortality was smok ing-related and that tobacco use contributes heavily to the non-commun icable diseases that are the leading causes of death there. Sources an d brands of cigarettes sold in the four FSM states are noted, as is th e fact that cigarettes ranked among the top five import commodities in dollar value in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, Trend data are provide d on cigarette imports from 1984 to 1993, during which time FSM citize ns spent over US825.5 m on this legal drug, Brand-price survey data of cigarettes and selected foodstuffs are presented as part of a discuss ion of the economic opportunity costs of smoking, Tax revenues from ci garettes are recorded, as are the steps toward smoking prevention and tobacco control taken by the FSM government, The article concludes wit h suggestions for additional controls that might be implemented.