A Deadly Pandemic is SpreadingThe Devastating Impact of Smoking is a Serious Warning for All

Overview

The authors draw attention to the serious character of the pandemic caused by smoking which on a worldwidescale is responsible for the premature death of 4.2million people every year. In the Czech Republic every year 22 000people die from the sequelae of smoking. The authors refer to work which contributed to the evidence of the harmfulimpact of smoking on health. The World Health Organization contributes markedly to efforts to control smoking.The authors present brief information on the conference inWarsaw held in February 2002, they mention briefly dataon smoking in Europe and the Czech Republic. They draw attention to the new strategy of the tobacco industry andappeal for joint and coordinated activities the objective of which would be to prevent health problems caused bysmoking.

Key words:
smoking and health, prevention of smoking, tobacco, anti-tobacco policy.