Tobacco; a barrier for sustainable development

Key findings, arguments and recommendations: (1) Tobacco use hinders development directly (due to healthcare costs) and indirectly (environmental damage, lost productivity due to illness, and trade-offs from food, education, and healthcare)
Key facts and stats: (1) Tobacco harming harms the health of both tobacco farmers and the environment; (2) “There is a need to support tobacco farmers by providing them alternatives to enable a shift from dependence on tobacco to independence for cultivating other food crops; (3) The majority of tobacco-related deaths occur during a person’s prime productive years (ages 30-69), harming the household and the national economy; (4) In South-East Asia, tobacco-related medical costs can account for up to 4.9% of total national medical expenditure – this money, ammounting to millions or even billions of dollars, could be better spent
Notes: This document goes through the targets of almost all of the SDGs, and links them to the effect of tobacco use and relevant tobacco control interventions
Main focus: SDGs
Other topics addressed: sustainable development; poverty; food security; education; gender; water and sanitation; economic growth; employment; inequality; cities; environment; justice
Source: WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia
Year: 2017
Document: Tobacco control for sustainable development