Framing Progress In Global Tobacco Control To Inform Action On Noncommunicable Diseases.
Much has been learned about the tobacco epidemic, including its consequences, effective measures to control it, and the actors involved. This article identifies lessons learned that are applicable to the other principal external causes of noncommunicable diseases: alcohol abuse, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity. Among these lessons are the development of evidence-based strategies such as proven cessation methods, tax increases, and smoke-free policies; the role of multinational corporations in maintaining markets and undermining control measures; and the need for strategies that reach across the life course and that begin with individuals and extend to higher levels of societal organization. Differences are also clear. Tobacco products are relatively homogeneous and have no direct benefit to consumers, whereas food and alcohol consumed in moderation are not inherently dangerous. Some tobacco-related diseases have the singular predominant cause of smoking, while many noncommunicable diseases have multiple interlocking causes such as poor diet, excess alcohol consumption, insufficient physical activity, and smoking, along with genetics. Thus, the tobacco control model of comprehensive multilevel strategies is applicable to the control of noncommunicable diseases, but the focus must be on multiple risk factors.
Heather L. Wipfli is an assistant professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and School of International Relations at the Keck School of Medicine and associate director of the Institute for Global Health, both at the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles.
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Jonathan Samet (jsamet@usc.edu) is distinguished professor and Flora L. Thornton Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine and director of the Institute for Global Health at the University of Southern California.
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D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011634:Public Health; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology
International/global health studies; Public Health; Tobacco/Smoking