Turkey fails in the fight against smoking: 1 in every 4 people over 15 smokes

Turkey has become the world leader with an average of 17 cigarettes consumed per person daily.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın, President of the Turkish Association for the Fight Against Smoking, who has been actively working on the fight against smoking for years, addressed important points regarding the issue and, noting that 1 in every 4 people over the age of 15 smokes, stated, "Smoking addiction in our country has reached terrifying levels."

Stating that around 2 billion people worldwide are addicted to cigarettes and other tobacco products, TSSD President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın said that electronic cigarettes, which are presented as an alternative for quitting smoking, are at least as harmful as cigarettes themselves.

Explaining that electronic cigarettes, which are attempted to be portrayed as innocent, cause many ailments such as lung and respiratory diseases as well as a slowing of cognitive activities, President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aydın said that the World Health Organization has issued an urgent call for action to minimize the harms of smoking and bring the use of electronic cigarettes under control. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aydın said, "The chemicals in electronic cigarettes, which are accepted as more innocent than cigarettes and whose use is increasing, are at least as harmful as the chemicals found in cigarette smoke, and people who want to quit smoking should be determined and show willpower in this regard instead of turning to alternatives to cigarettes."

1 IN EVERY 4 PEOPLE OVER 15

Stating that the number of people who smoke in Turkey is more than 15 million, President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aydın said, "In our country, 1 in every 4 people over the age of 15 uses cigarettes. If we look at European statistics, our country ranks second after Bulgaria. While the average for EU countries is 18.4, the Turkish average is 27.3. As can be seen, smoking addiction in our country has reached terrifying levels." Stating that a large portion of cigarette and tobacco substance addicts start smoking during childhood and adolescence, Aydın said, "Our youth try smoking at a very early age and start smoking regularly at 18. In later years, the amount of smoking increases continuously."

ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

Stating that cigarette and tobacco product manufacturers lead people to smoke with attractive advertisements, President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aydın said, "These multinational companies market cigarette and tobacco products in a way that attracts the attention of young people. Later, for those who want to get rid of this situation and quit smoking, they direct them to products such as electronic cigarettes through various advertising campaigns. In other words, these companies have completely created a system of exploitation."

DREW ATTENTION TO SECONDHAND SMOKING

Stating that Turkey being the leader in terms of daily cigarette consumption per person also brings secondhand smoking with it, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aydın said, "The negative effects of secondhand smoking on health are indisputable. Undoubtedly, children are among those most affected by this situation. Due to secondhand smoking, our children's cognitive development is also largely negatively affected. Especially in our country, where daily cigarette consumption is so high, our children are under great risk."

CALL TO CITIZENS TO QUIT SMOKING

Touching upon the fact that Turkey being the world leader due to cigarette consumption has many negative effects on public health as well as negatively affecting cognitive development, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aydın concluded his words by saying, "In people who smoke, shrinkage in the brain and mental and cognitive retardation are observed. It has been proven by scientists that the brains of those who smoke 1 pack of cigarettes a day shrink and that it is only possible for them to return to their former state in 25 years. Turkey is a country where 1 in every 4 people over the age of 15 consumes an average of 17 cigarettes, meaning we can say that almost 1 pack of cigarettes is consumed per day. When we consider this situation, if smokers quit this scourge today, it will take them 25 years for their brains to return to their former state. The harm they do to themselves is at very dire levels. They need to realize this and be determined to quit smoking, without any alternatives."