WHO Issues Landmark Guideline to Boost Global Tobacco Cessation Efforts
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its inaugural guideline on tobacco cessation, urging comprehensive strategies that include behavioral support by healthcare professionals, digital interventions, and pharmacological treatments.
Addressing the needs of over 750 million tobacco users worldwide who desire to quit various forms of tobacco, including cigarettes, waterpipes, and smokeless products, the guideline aims to fill a critical gap in cessation services. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized the guideline’s significance in combating tobacco-related diseases globally.
With 70% of those wishing to quit lacking access to effective support, Dr. Rüdiger Krech, WHO’s Director of Health Promotion, highlighted the guideline’s role in enhancing community and governmental efforts to aid cessation. The recommendation to combine pharmacotherapy with behavioral interventions underscores the approach’s proven efficacy in boosting cessation rates.
WHO endorsed several medications, including varenicline and nicotine replacement therapy, and initiated a prequalification process to expand access to recommended cessation aids. Kenvue’s recent WHO prequalification of nicotine gum and patches marked a milestone toward this goal.
The guideline advocates for integrating brief counseling into routine healthcare visits and leveraging digital tools like apps and text messaging to bolster cessation efforts. It calls upon healthcare providers, policymakers, and stakeholders to embrace these recommendations to advance global health outcomes.
By promoting accessible and effective cessation support, WHO aims to alleviate the burden of tobacco addiction and improve the well-being of millions worldwide.