For decades, tobacco use has remained one of the most persistent public health threats globally, claiming over 8 million lives each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite this grim statistic, the battle to eradicate tobacco use continues to face formidable resistance—not from users, but from the well-financed tobacco industry itself. It is time we openly discuss the opposing forces in this long-standing war: the tobacco industry versus global health.
The dual narrative: Profit vs protection
On one side lies the tobacco industry, a conglomerate of corporations driven by profit, employing marketing tactics, political lobbying, and public relations campaigns to keep tobacco products accessible and attractive. On the other side are public health advocates and organisations desperately trying to save lives through education, policy enforcement, and community interventions.
The tobacco industry’s influence is deep-rooted. According to the WHO, tobacco companies continue to use various tactics to derail health policies and normalise tobacco use. From targeting young people through flavoured products to funding front groups and lobbying against tobacco control laws, these strategies are designed to undermine public health efforts at every level.
In countries like Vietnam, as highlighted by the WHO, tobacco companies are actively challenging national tobacco control strategies under the guise of protecting consumer choice and economic contribution.
Despite clear evidence of harm, tobacco products remain widely available—often cheaper than essential medications.
Public health organisations have not been silent. Initiatives such as the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and annual World No Tobacco Day campaigns aim to educate and mobilise stakeholders against tobacco. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives is increasingly being called into question.
World No Tobacco Day, observed each year on 31 May, serves as a rallying point for tobacco control. Yet once the banners are folded and the hashtags fade, the momentum often dissipates. Tobacco use, on the other hand, continues daily, fuelled by billion-dollar advertising and distribution networks.
Public health messaging, though well-intentioned, struggles to compete with the strategic marketing and political power of the tobacco giants.
The real cost of inaction
The human cost of tobacco is devastating. From heart disease and cancers to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and stroke, the health consequences are far-reaching. Economically, tobacco-related illnesses burden healthcare systems, reduce productivity, and increase poverty—particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Moreover, the environmental toll of tobacco is gaining attention. Tobacco farming leads to deforestation, soil degradation, and water contamination. Cigarette butts—the most littered item globally—contribute to environmental pollution on an enormous scale.
Time for a public health reboot
The current strategy—occasional campaigns, sporadic policy enforcement, and mild educational content—is no match for a well-coordinated industry machine. It’s time for public health organisations to rethink and restrategise. Here’s what needs to change:
Year-round advocacy: Tobacco control efforts must be sustained throughout the year, not just on No Tobacco Day. Continuous community engagement, school-based interventions, and media campaigns should form the core of our approach.
Unified messaging: Global public health institutions need to speak with one voice. Fragmented efforts dilute impact. A cohesive communication strategy—featuring real stories, emotional appeal, and solid facts—can shift public perception.
Digital counter-marketing: Public health must embrace digital tools. Just as tobacco companies leverage influencers and viral content, so too must health campaigns engage audiences via TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram with creative, youth-centred messaging.
Policy enforcement and transparency: Governments must be held accountable. Health professionals and civil society should monitor and report industry interference and demand transparency in policymaking.
Protect youth at all costs: School curricula must include tobacco education. Policies should restrict marketing near schools and ban child-appealing tobacco variants.
Empower healthcare providers: As trusted sources of information, healthcare providers must receive training and resources to counsel patients effectively on tobacco cessation and become vocal advocates for stronger tobacco control laws.
Final thoughts: The fight must intensify
Public health can no longer afford to be reactive. While the tobacco industry continues to evolve, so must our strategies. As healthcare providers and advocates, we must challenge the normalisation of tobacco use, hold complicit stakeholders accountable, and most importantly, protect the public—especially our youth—from preventable harm.
Let us replace awareness days with awareness months, temporary tweets with permanent reforms, and soft messaging with bold action.
The war against tobacco is far from over—but with coordinated, creative, and courageous efforts, public health can still win.
The time to intensify our fight is now—because while we delay, the tobacco industry advances.
References
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). Opposing Goals: Tobacco Industry vs Public Health.
PLOS Medicine. The Tobacco Industry’s Influence on Research and Public Opinion.
WHO Vietnam. Tobacco Industry Tactics in Vietnam.
WHO Global. Urging Nations to Reject Partnerships with Tobacco Industry.
Unfairtobacco.org. Tobacco Companies Undermine Public Health.
By Pharm. (Dr) Onyinye Bridget Chiekwe, PharmD, MScPH, ABMP
pharmbree25@gmail.com
