Developing countries have had enough: Is it time for a tobacco endgame?

Extensive research has been published on the dangers of tobacco and the miseries it has caused to human health and economies, yet its consumption appears to have gained significant momentum 1,2 , with addiction, illness and poverty among the major outcomes. Extensive funding has been allocated to combat the tobacco epidemic with little progress, especially in developing countries. It appears, therefore, that the time has come to confront tobacco companies head-on in order for them to explain the philosophy behind tobacco business at the expense of human life. This would be one of the most radical decisive measures in addition to classifying tobacco as a hard drug -in the same group with heroin, cannabis, and cocaine. This has been supported before by other researchers as one of the most effective methods towards achieving tobacco endgame. For instance, banning tobacco products has reduced smoking risk among the youth and as such, strong e-cigarette regulation measures are required to achieve cessation 3 . Enacting legislation to ban tobacco, considering the present legal status it enjoys, is not easy but governments across the globe should be encouraged to pursue this route.