/countries/myanmar/who-world-no-tobacco-day-banner.png?sfvrsn=f3ec0f21_3 "WHO World No Tobacco Day Banner")
Caption: WHO World No Tobacco Day Banner
Credit: World Health Organization (WHO)
YANGON, Myanmar (WHO News) — Tobacco use remains one of the world’s leading public health threats, with around 1.3 billion users and more than 8 million deaths each year, including 1.2 million from second-hand smoke. Today, the epidemic is evolving, with a new generation increasingly targeted by both traditional tobacco products and the rapid rise of e-cigarettes and other nicotine devices.
In Myanmar, tobacco use continues to pose a serious health concern, while emerging products are creating new risks, especially for young people. Globally, an estimated 40 million adolescents aged 13–15 use tobacco, and 15 million use e-cigarettes. In countries with available data, young people are now nine times more likely to vape than adults, highlighting a growing and urgent challenge.
/countries/myanmar/who-world-no-tobacco-day-webinar.png?sfvrsn=8f7ea230_3 "WHO World No Tobacco Day webinar")
Caption: WHO World No Tobacco Day webinar
Credit: WHO Myanmar
“Novel nicotine products, from e-cigarettes to nicotine pouches, are being marketed with the language of harm reduction, but their rapid proliferation among adolescents and young adults signals a public health crisis in the making, says Dr Prashant Kumar Singh, a senior scientist at the WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub on Smokeless Tobacco. He also adds, “Nicotine is not a benign substance; it rewires the developing brain, creates lasting dependence, and serves as a gateway to sustain tobacco use. We must urgently strengthen regulatory frameworks and invest in public awareness before another generation is captured by the tobacco and nicotine industry.”
Besides tobacco and emerging novel nicotine products, areca nut use is also deeply woven into the social and cultural fabric of the Southeast Asian region, so that its harms on health remain dangerously invisible to most users.
“Areca nut is a Group 1 carcinogen that has been directly linked to oral submucous fibrosis and oral cancer. Yet areca nut continues to be sold and consumed freely, often in flavored and sweetened forms that appeal to children and young adults. Dismantling the myth that areca nut is a harmless cultural tradition is one of the most important public health challenges we face in this region,” said Dr Ruchika Gupta, a scientist E & Head, Division of Cytopathology, ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Noida.
Myanmar is part of the global movement to address this crisis through proven strategies. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), adopted by 183 countries, provides a roadmap for reducing tobacco demand and protecting public health.
Complementing this, WHO’s MPOWER measures offer a comprehensive package of six proven, evidence-based strategies that help countries reduce tobacco use, prevent tobacco-related diseases, and save lives. These include monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies; protecting people from tobacco smoke through smoke-free environments; offering help to quit tobacco use; warning about the dangers of tobacco through health warnings and public campaigns; enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship; and raising taxes on tobacco products to reduce affordability. Together, these measures have been shown to save lives, reduce healthcare costs, and significantly decrease tobacco use.
“We have the tools to reduce tobacco use. What we need now is sustained commitment and strong implementation to protect the next generation,” said Dr Nilmini Hemachandra, team lead for universal health coverage (UHC) at WHO Myanmar. “As the tobacco landscape evolves, so too must our collective response. Protecting young people from both traditional tobacco and emerging nicotine products is critical not only for their health today, but also in the years to come.”
/countries/myanmar/screenshot-of-the-who-s-21-day-world-no-tobacco-day-social-media-campaign_1.png?sfvrsn=8030937f_3 "Screenshot of the WHO’s 21-day World No Tobacco Day social media campaign_1")
/countries/myanmar/screenshot-of-the-who-s-21-day-world-no-tobacco-day-social-media-campaign_2.png?sfvrsn=84a902a_3 "Screenshot of the WHO’s 21-day World No Tobacco Day social media campaign_2")
/countries/myanmar/screenshot-of-the-who-s-21-day-world-no-tobacco-day-social-media-campaign_3.png?sfvrsn=ba314ea3_3 "Screenshot of the WHO’s 21-day World No Tobacco Day social media campaign_3")
Caption: Screenshot of the WHO’s 21-day World No Tobacco Day social media campaign
Credit: WHO Myanmar
Amid these growing concerns and the increasing complexity of novel nicotine products, sustained public awareness and engagement are more important than ever. To mark World No Tobacco Day this year, WHO Myanmar recently implemented a 21-day social media communication campaign aimed at raising awareness of the harms of tobacco and emerging nicotine products, with a particular focus on protecting young people. The campaign reached more than 374,000 people across digital platforms, amplifying key public health messages.
/countries/myanmar/who-world-no-tobacco-day-webinar_2.png?sfvrsn=fad009b3_4 "WHO World No Tobacco Day webinar_2")
Caption: WHO World No Tobacco Day webinar
Credit: WHO Myanmar
This was complemented by a webinar that brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss emerging trends, share evidence, and reinforce the need for stronger action. Initiatives such as these play a critical role in translating global evidence into local action, mobilizing communities, strengthening public understanding, and building momentum for sustained tobacco control efforts in Myanmar.
The message is clear: there is no safe level of tobacco or nicotine use, and urgent action is needed to prevent a new generation from becoming addicted.