Global Youth Tobacco Survey underscores urgent need to protect youth from tobacco harms

/Y. Shimizu

MANILA, 28 JUNE 2016 -One out of 12 students aged 13–15 years in 23 countries have used some form of tobacco. More than 4.2 million students are cigarette smokers in 22 countries in the Western Pacific Region.

These alarming statistics come from a new report published by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The report, Youth and tobacco in the Western Pacific Region: global youth tobacco survey (GYTS) 2005-2014, presents an overview of youth tobacco use in the Region. The report highlights the need for continued vigilance and robust actions to protect youth from tobacco harms.

Globally, tobacco claims 6 million lives each year. Thirty per cent of all tobacco-related deaths occur in the Western Pacific Region. Most smokers start using tobacco at a young age and continue throughout adulthood. As a consequence, a significant proportion will experience tobacco-related illness and death. Prevention of tobacco use among youth is essential to reduce the increasing global burden of noncommunicable diseases.

Monitoring youth uptake of tobacco use is of critical importance in all countries of the Western Pacific, as the tobacco industry continues to target young people. The effects of the tobacco epidemic are shown in higher rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic respiratory disease in adults, further resulting in premature disease and death.

"Tobacco surveillance and monitoring are essential components of international policies to tobacco control," said Dr Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. "We must remain vigilant to ensure that the future of our youth won't be marred by tobacco's deplorable harms. To use the youth as today's tobacco customers is unacceptable."

Other key findings of the report include:

• In the 22 countries surveyed, 44.1% of students (28.8 million) were exposed to second-hand smoke at home. Prevalence ranged from a low of 29.7% in the Republic of Korea to a high of 76.6% in Tuvalu.
• It is estimated that one out of 100 students has smoked on 20 or more days in a month.
• Smokeless tobacco, pipes and other forms of local tobacco products are commonly used in many countries. In one third of the countries, the proportion of users of other forms of tobacco exceeds cigarette smokers.
• Smoking before age 10 is common. In 80% of the countries, early initiation rate is higher than 10%.
• Majority of current smokers wish to quit and have tried to quit smoking.
• Nearly three quarters (74.9%) are aware of the dangers of second-hand smoke. One out of four students still needs to be sensitized, and many students still suffer from harmful second-hand smoke in public places, schools and homes.
• Eight out of 10 students who watched television, videos and movies reported seeing tobacco use in the media. While available data are limited, results indicate that tobacco marketing at points of sale is noticed by 10% to 60% of students.

About GYTS

One of the standardized tools to collect tobacco-specific population data, the GYTS is a school-based, self-administered survey focusing on students aged 13–15. Since its introduction in 1999, 24 countries (out of 27 participating) in the Western Pacific Region have conducted the GYTS at the national level, with 14 countries conducting two or more surveys. Results have been used to advocate for stronger tobacco control measures, particularly for those policies that can reduce youth access to tobacco (by increasing taxes on tobacco products), protect young people from exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke and prevent marketing tactics that target youth.