WHO's MPOWER Tobacco Control

MPOWER - Monitoring Tobacco Use and Prevention Policies

• Data is necessary for implementing and evaluating effective tobacco control policies.
• Continual monitoring of the tobacco epidemic and interventions helps improve their management.
• WHO works with countries to:
• Encourage use of standards and scientific protocols for monitoring tobacco use among adults and adolescents.
• Gather data for national and global monitoring of trends in tobacco use and strengthening tobacco control policies.
• Advocate for strengthening of policies that effectively reduce tobacco use.

Protecting People from Tobacco Smoke

• Creating completely smoke-free indoor public places is popular and does not harm business.
• Any country can implement effective smoke-free legislation, regardless of income level.
• Only a total ban on smoking in indoor public places protects people from second-hand smoke, helps smokers quit, and reduces youth smoking.

Offering Help to Quit Tobacco Use

• Many people want to quit smoking, but only 4% succeed without adequate support.
• Behavioral interventions, such as "brief advice" from health professionals, can help people quit.
• Toll-free quit lines and mobile phone-based cessation interventions can increase the absolute quit rate.
• Pharmacological interventions, such as Nicotine Replacement Therapy and medications, can increase quit success rates.

Warning about the Dangers of Tobacco

• Warnings should appear on both the front and back of packaging, be large and clear, and describe specific illnesses caused by tobacco.
• Graphic images demonstrating the harm of tobacco use can be especially effective in convincing users to quit.

Enforcing Bans on Tobacco Advertising, Promotion, and Sponsorship (TAPS)

• TAPS bans should protect children and adolescents from exposure through digital media.
• TAPS bans are an effective tobacco control measure to reduce tobacco use.
• Bans must cover all TAPS activities.

Raising Taxes on Tobacco

• Tobacco taxation is relatively inexpensive to implement and generates significant revenues.
• Raising taxes to increase the price of tobacco products is the most effective tobacco control measure.
• Tobacco tax revenues can help fund a sustainable tobacco program.
• Taxes should be raised periodically to offset inflation and income growth.

Facts about Jordan

• More than 6 out of 10 men and 41% of the overall adult population are smokers.
• 24% of students aged between 13 and 15 are current smokers.
• Tobacco use is associated with approximately 1 in 8 deaths in the country.
• Tobacco use costs Jordan an estimated US$2.67 billion in healthcare expenditures and lost productivity.

Impact in Jordan

• Households in Jordan spend more on tobacco-related products than on fruits, dairy products, meat, and vegetables.

Smoking Cessation Clinic

• The Smoking Cessation Clinic was established to contribute to effective tobacco control and reduce cancer cases in Jordan.
• The clinic provides integrated services through individualized treatment plans that include behavioral therapy and medical therapy from certified Tobacco Treatment Specialists.