KUWAIT CITY : Twenty-one years have passed since World No Tobacco Day was first introduced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to draw global attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and to its negative health effects. Despite the progress made. WHO estimates that there are more than one billion smokers in the world today, with tobacco use killing 5.4 million people a year – an average of one person every six seconds. In Kuwait, the WHO Global Youth Tobacco Survey estimates that over a quarter (28%) of the male youth population – aged 13-15 years – smoke tobacco, compared to the much lower 14.3% of the female youth population who smoke. The Ministry of Health has been actively fighting the prevalence of smoking in the country through various initiatives designed to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and to discourage the habit.

George Wagih, spokesperson for the ‘Nicorette’ Nicotine Replacement Therapy range, says that “over 35 million smokers try to quit each year, yet less than 5% reach their one-year anniversary.” Nicotine addiction drives the smoking habit, and unless smokers can beat the cravings that come from nicotine addiction, they can’t beat the habit. “Nicotine replacement therapy, such as Nicorette patches, is designed to deliver controlled amounts of nicotine at a slower, less intense pace,” he adds. “It relieves cravings while allowing smokers to gradually wean themselves off nicotine addiction.”