Proven strategies for smoking cessation - Adopting a global approach

Smoking is one of the biggest single causes of preventable mortality, with tobacco use accounting for an estimated 1,273,000 deaths in Europe in 1998. The 2nd European Conference and Ist Iberoamerican Conference on Tobacco or Health brought together world experts on tobacco control to discuss the th emes of children and tobacco; politics and economics; and the science of ce ssation. This supplement focuses mainly on the latter topic. Healthcare ser vices and healthcare personnel in all countries need to become actively inv olved in promoting smoking cessation in order to reduce tobacco-related mor tality, but in many parts of Europe guidelines or recommendations for integ ration of smoking cessation into routine clinical care are lacking. With th e recent development of nicotine replacement therapy, and tailored, self-he lp, behavioural support therapy, health professionals, including pharmacist s, are able to offer effective support. Promotion of smoking cessation can produce immediate public health and economic benefits. There is a need for collaboration between all concerned - international agencies, governments, public health bodies, health professionals and the pharmaceutical industry - to confront the challenges of tobacco control.