GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced its first-ever comprehensive guidelines aimed at helping adults worldwide quit tobacco. These guidelines include digital cessation interventions, behavioural support from healthcare providers, and pharmacological treatments.
The WHO guidelines aimed at addressing a pressing global health challenge that affects over 750 million people globally.
The new guidelines are designed to assist users of various tobacco products such as cigarettes, waterpipes, cigars, and heated tobacco products (HTPs) in overcoming addiction and improving their health outcomes.
Despite a strong desire among more than 60% of the world’s 1.25 billion tobacco users to quit, approximately 70% lack access to effective cessation services, primarily due to resource constraints within healthcare systems. The WHO’s recommendations seek to bridge this gap by providing practical guidance for communities and governments to offer comprehensive support.
Key to the guidelines is the combination of pharmacotherapy with behavioural interventions, significantly enhancing the likelihood of successful cessation. The WHO advocates for the use of pharmacological treatments such as varenicline, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), bupropion, and cytisine.
In a landmark move to improve access to cessation aids, the WHO initiated a prequalification process for medicinal products targeting tobacco-related disorders in 2023. By April 2024, Kenvue’s nicotine gum and patch became the first NRT products to receive WHO prequalification, paving the way for increased availability in global markets.
Furthermore, the guidelines underscore the effectiveness of brief counselling sessions by healthcare providers, more intensive behavioural support, and digital interventions such as text messaging, smartphone apps, and internet programs in assisting individuals to quit tobacco.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, urged healthcare providers, policymakers, and stakeholders worldwide to adopt and implement these guidelines. He emphasized that such efforts are crucial not only for individual health but also for reducing the overall burden of tobacco-related diseases globally.
