Eradication of commercial tobacco related disease and death

Abstract

The eradication of the commercial tobacco industry is a crucial goal for health and well-being, particularly from a public health and health justice perspective. The term ‘eradication’ is applied in epidemiology to mean the process and outcome of elimination of the—commercial tobacco industry as a human-made—agent of disease and death. In this commentary, we outline why the eradication of the tobacco industry is necessary, urgent and realistic.

The potential impact of eradication of the industry is substantial. Without the industry and the commercial tobacco that it produces, it is expected that globally over 22 000 lives will be saved daily (over 8 million annually), and life expectancy will increase. The human right to health underscores the need for tobacco industry accountability for the harms it causes and given the enormous human and financial costs, it is time for action towards eradication of the industry.

The tobacco industry’s opposition to tobacco control, particularly strategies focused on market supply and industry reform, has been fierce. Their strategies have involved circumventing, attacking and undermining public health measures to preserve profits. However, with insights learnt from over 70 years of incremental successes in reducing commercial tobacco use, we know that through comprehensive and locally tailored eradication strategies involving legislation, regulation and public health initiatives across multiple levels of governments, we can overcome the resistance from the tobacco industry and their affiliates. Given the cost of commercial tobacco and the ever-growing global consensus on its harms, the time to act is now.

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