KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On Friday, World No Tobacco Day began with the Knox County Health Department posting on social media and offering resources to help people quit smoking. It's meant to be a day that draws global attention to the preventable deaths and diseases caused by tobacco use while also highlighting business practices in the tobacco industry.
This year, the theme of the day is "protecting children from tobacco industry interference." The World Health Organization said it hopes to give young people across the world a platform so they can urge governments to take action and prevent predatory tobacco marketing tactics.
It said the tobacco industry targets youth so it continues to make money as they grow older, effectively guaranteeing "a lifetime of profits." It also said children are using e-cigarettes at higher rates than adults in all regions, and around 37 million people between 13 years old and 15 years old use tobacco globally.
Anyone who wants to quit smoking can contact the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine by calling 1-800-784-8669 or texting "QUIT" to 615-795-0600. The QuitLine offers coaching, personalized support and free nicotine replacement therapy for people who are eligible.
World No Tobacco Day began when the WHO passed a resolution in 1988 to draw attention to "the tobacco epidemic," first marked on April 7, 1988, as a "world no-smoking day." Another resolution was passed in 1988, naming May 31 as World No Tobacco Day.