October 3, Toronto – The World
Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) continues to support chiropractors globally,
in the anti-tobacco initiative – guided by the World Health Organization (WHO)
– called Chiropractors Against Tobacco (CAT).
According to the WHO, tobacco use is one of the biggest public health threats ever faced,
killing about 5.4 million people a year – an average of one person very six
seconds. There are over one billion
smokers around the world today. Although
the use of tobacco is decreasing in high-income countries, its use is
increasing on an overall global scale.
Almost half the world’s children breathe air contaminated with tobacco
smoke.
More than
80% of the world’s smokers live in low-to-middle income countries. Tobacco use eventually kills about half of
those who partake in it, and is a risk factor for six out of the eight leading
causes of death in the world.
“Chiropractors
Against Tobacco” is a program aimed at raising
public awareness regarding the hazards of tobacco use, for those in high income
countries as well as people in low-to-middle income areas of the world. Chiropractors are asked to talk to their patients
about the public health risks of tobacco use. As well, DCs can visit the WFC
website (www.wfc.org – click on “Chiropractors
Against Tobacco”) to view posters, pamphlets and a host of materials to help
educate the public on the negative aspects of tobacco use and/or to help
patients stay tobacco-free.
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