Tobacco control in Saudi Arabia

TOBACCO CONTROL IN SAUDI ARABIA

Introduction

For over 50 years there has been smoking in Saudi Arabia even though the country neither grows tobacco nor manufacture cigarettes . The yearly consumption of cigarettes is 15 billion and a 40 ,000 tons inhalation of tobacco smoke . This costs the country approximately 600 million Saudi Riyals (close to 150 million ) annually . Studies carried out in the early 90 's indicate that most of the smokers (78 ) were between the ages 21-50 years (Al-Faris 1995

.67 . The prevalence has been recorded to be higher

among workers of particular professions such as army officers and also among married and uneducated people . For this reason the country has been ranked position 23rd in the world considering the population of smokers per capita

The authorities have already noted that the country is facing a public health problem and calls forth for a tobacco control effort . As a predominantly Muslim country , Saudi Arabia , enjoys a lapse in smoking in the mouth of Ramadan , at least during the daylight , is free of smoke According to the health experts the holy month of Ramadan is a perfect opportunity for the smokers to give up smoking . This is just one among the many suggestions that have been put across to address the problem of tobacco use

A shocking Trend

The results from a survey indicate the prevalence of smoking in the country stood at 11 .6 . The majority of the smokers were young to middle-aged men (Al-Faris 1995

.47-55...