Materia Medica Malaysiana

Tobacco-related deaths to climb

PETALING JAYA: The number of deaths yearly due to smoking will triple over the next three decades to 30,000 by 2030.

Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohamad Taha Arif said about 10,000 Malaysians die each year now as a result of smoking.

“There are about five million smokers in Malaysia, each smoking an average of 14 cigarettes a day. Half of these smokers will eventually be killed by tobacco,” he said.

He said this in his foreword to the Clinical Practical Guidelines on Treatment of Tobacco Smoking and Dependence 2003, published by the ministry's Disease Control Division and the Academy of Medicine.

Dr Mohamad Taha said while tobacco consumption was dropping in developed countries, it was on the rise in developing countries, including Malaysia, because of higher population growth.

“The prevalence of smokers among Malaysians aged 15 years and above had increased from 21% in 1985 to 31% in 2000,” he said.

Noting that it was difficult to quit smoking, Dr Mohamad Taha said healthcare professionals could also playing an active role in helping smokers break the habit.

“Among the current smokers, about 43% have attempted to quit on their own, but failed to do so,” he said.

However, he said, studies had found that a few minutes of firm advice from doctors, supported by educational materials and follow-ups, had helped smokers to quit.