Despite health warnings, a large number of people continue to smoke all over the world.

It is well known that smoking is associated with a large variety of diseases like cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but many people are still smoking regardless of these dangers. I strongly believe that appropiate heath education and restrictive politics against tobacco may create a sharp, downward trend in smoking.

To begin, smoking is a significant and global health problem in our community and It costs the states an enormous amount of money. It has been proposed that smoking is directly related with at least a 25 to 30% mortality rate in the general population. Many hospital admissions with a severe condition such cancer, heart attack, stroke or lung diseases have a clear cause, which is smoking tobacco. Although this is a well known fact, many people are still getting addicted to this dangerous drug. From my point of view, tobacco lobbies are highly responsible for this controversy.

Secondly, the only way in which society may reduce the smoking of tobacco is through tighter laws and extensive education campaigns. Jogging our memories, it was only in the recent past that Spain banned smoking in closed places and whether tobacco lobbies like it or not, it has produced a decrease in smoking. Furthermore, scientifically speaking, it is proven that global media campaigns against tobacco are succesful to produce a drop in the abuse of this drug. States should implement an aggressive approach in providing information to their citizens on the consequences of smoking.

In closing, many people begin or continue smoking in spite of health recommendations so the states' leaders should implement effective law restrictions and extensive media campaigns against it. I hope that public health may win this war against tobacco lobbies in the future.