title: Prevalence of smuggled and foreign cigarette use in Tehran, 2009.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Iran is one of two main target markets for tobacco smuggling in the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region. The Iranian government has a local tobacco monopoly but there is high demand for international brands. Informal reports show about 20% of cigarette consumption is smuggled brands. This pack survey study is the first in Iran to gather validated information on use of smuggled cigarettes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized cross-sectional household survey in Tehran in 2008-2009 of 1540 smokers aged 16-90 (83% men) was performed, including interviewer checking of cigarette packs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 20.9% of cigarettes and 6.7% of domestic branded cigarettes were smuggled. A total of 60.1% of smokers preferred foreign cigarettes. There was no significant difference between consumption of illegal cigarettes by sex. (Fisher exact test p=0.61) Use of smuggled cigarettes was higher among younger smokers (p=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of illegal cigarettes is high. Tobacco control laws outlawing their sale are not being enforced.
authors.affiliation: Tobacco Prevention and Control Research Center (TPCRC), Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heydari
authors.forename: Saeid Fallah
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Tafti
authors.forename: Firouzeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Telischi
authors.forename: Luk
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joossens
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masjedi
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghafari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D055815:Young Adult