The importance of spreading knowledge about the consequences of tobacco
To get fewer people to start using tobacco – and more to quit – knowledge is the most important tool. When people gain a deeper understanding of the consequences of tobacco for both their own health and our planet, they are more likely to choose to quit. There is also evidence that knowledge about the tobacco industry’s ugly methods of recruiting new customers matters. Such knowledge influences attitudes towards tobacco and support for tobacco control legislation.
Article 12 of the Tobacco Control Convention states that everyone has the right to information about tobacco. It is a right that is also based on the Convention on Human Rights. The information should be based on research and proven experience. It should cover all aspects of tobacco, i.e. tobacco prevention, the health risks, the risks of passive smoking, the health risks of production and how the tobacco industry tries to undermine tobacco policy.
It is important that all information efforts are protected from the influence of the tobacco industry.
Parties to the Tobacco Control Convention, including Sweden, shall, among other things:
- Through information and communication work, strengthen public awareness of issues related to tobacco control and prevention work.
- Create broad educational programs for the public aimed at changing social acceptance of tobacco, tobacco farming, and the tobacco industry.
- Design training programs for key communicators, such as health care, social services, and school personnel, as well as politicians and other decision-makers and media representatives.
The voluntary sector's participation in the work is always important, and here Tobacco Facts and our member organizations play an important role.
In recent years, reduced resources have reduced or completely stopped the supply of information and educational materials in several areas in Sweden. This is despite the fact that new generations have the same right to knowledge as previous generations. Information efforts must continue as long as the tobacco industry recruits new users of tobacco.
Everyone's right to support to quit smoking
Nicotine is highly addictive, and one explanation for the tobacco industry's success in getting people around the world to continue buying and using their deadly products. Most smokers want to quit. Many snuff users also want to quit. Many succeed in quitting tobacco on their own, while others need professional support. Article 14 of the FCTC stresses the importance of everyone who wants and needs to quit having the right to support to do so.
Sweden has a long tradition of working with tobacco cessation. The National Board of Health and Welfare's National Guidelines for Disease Prevention Methods from 2011, which include tobacco cessation as a central part, have also significantly increased the quality and access to tobacco cessation.
The national support telephone line, Sluta-Röka-Linjen, was started in 1998 and has a national mission. The operation is run by Stockholm County Council with main funding from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Sluta-Röka-Linjen provides free qualified support to people who want to change their tobacco habits.
The professional associations against tobacco are working to ensure the quality of tobacco cessation training and have developed a diploma course. Quitting is also available online via mobile phone apps; Rökfri and Fimpaaa (the latter for young people) are free tools with a wide reach.
But there are still major areas for improvement:
- Only two percent of primary care patients received any form of advice or support to quit smoking in 2015, according to statistics from the National Board of Health and Welfare.
- Important areas that need to be developed are reaching socio-economically weak groups, immigrants, children and young adults.
- There are also still major shortcomings in various healthcare training courses when it comes to training in tobacco counseling.
Do you want to quit tobacco? Tobacco Facts' member organization Psychologists Against Tobacco has all the information you need on its website.
This is what other countries do
Iceland, Switzerland, Iran and Vietnam have earmarked funds from tobacco taxes that go only to tobacco control efforts such as information, education and public awareness about tobacco.
Norway and the UK have regularly carried out mass media campaigns to support their tobacco policy measures. The sender has been the state. Both Norway and the UK are at the forefront of the fight against tobacco.
Denmark's "Rygestopbas", run by the Danish Cancer Society, is a database for monitoring and researching patients' smoking cessation. The database has existed since 1999. Today, 94 of 98 Danish municipalities are connected.
The Norwegian Directorate of Health has on several occasions run successful opinion-forming campaigns to increase awareness among the population about quitting tobacco and, ideally, never starting.
Read more examples of tobacco prevention work in other countries in International Outlook.
Tips for politicians, public health officials, teachers and others who work in tobacco-related fields!
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Tips for politicians, public health officials, teachers and others who work in tobacco-related fields!
Do you work in healthcare? Demand that you receive training on how to best talk about tobacco and the tobacco industry in your daily work.
Are you a teacher? In what ways can you contribute to increased knowledge and discussion about tobacco issues, not least the tobacco industry, in your teaching?
Do you work with public health planning and strategies? Make sure that your municipality, county council, region or county administrative board has a continuous training program with breadth, long-term focus and sufficient resources in terms of training and information for staff and the public.
Here is support to quit smoking
It has been shown that there may be a link between smoking and COVID-19. Quitting smoking is therefore an important measure to reduce the risk of contracting the disease. This applies to all types of inhalation products, i.e. traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn and hookah.
Both young and old have a lot to gain from quitting smoking now, as the body begins to repair itself immediately after quitting. Quitting can also mean a sense of gaining some control in the situation we now have in society where many people are getting sick, as it is a way to influence your own health.
Quitting smoking can be difficult, so it's important to get support to help you quit. Below are tips on where you can turn to get the support you need.
Quit Smoking Line
A free support line for anyone who has concerns about quitting tobacco. You can get support via phone and chat. Relatives who want guidance to support someone who wants to quit can also get in touch. The Quit Smoking Line offers support in multiple languages.
Quit Smoking Line website
Brochure about quitting smoking
Contact details are available. here
Tobacco Help
Region Jönköping has developed a digital tool that allows you to receive guided treatment online. The treatment gives you the opportunity to work with a tobacco cessation specialist to make a plan based on your needs and possibilities. Tobacco help can be used by citizens in all regions of Sweden. Contact your health center to access the program.
Here can you read more
The Smoke-Free app
1177 has an app that gives you support to quit smoking. You get help finding strategies and a virtual coach gives you continuous concrete tips and advice.
Read more here
My nicotine-free journey
A digital support and treatment program. My nicotine-free journey is a digital service that is part of the 1177 Vårdguiden offering. The treatment takes place online and consists of information, images, film and audio clips. Contact your health center to access the program.
Read more here
Support materials for those who want to quit
Psychologists Against Tobacco have collected a lot of material that can give you support in quitting smoking.
Here you find the material
Young and want to quit smoking?
UMO has information for those who want to quit smoking, and tips on where to turn.
Read more here
Material for those of you who, in your professional role, encounter people who want to quit
Psychologists Against Tobacco have collected material for those who work with providing support for smoking cessation. In the current situation, other professional groups may also need information on how best to provide support for smoking cessation. This includes guidance material for support to groups with a mother tongue other than Swedish.
Here you find the material
