World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a set of tobacco cessation interventions in its first ever clinical treatment guideline on cessation of tobacco use in adults.
The set of recommendations in the new tobacco cessation guidelines include behavioral support by healthcare providers, digital cessation interventions as well as pharmacological treatments, focused on helping more than 750 million tobacco users who want to quit all forms of tobacco.
In the guidelines, WHO has recommended behavioral interventions which include brief health worker counselling sessions of between 30 seconds to 3 minutes that will be offered routinely in healthcare settings for interested users.
Additionally, digital interventions such as text messaging, smartphone apps and internet programs can be used as self-management tools, further recommending varenicline, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), bupropion and cytisine as other effective treatments for tobacco cessation.
Furthermore, WHO insists that the recommendations are relevant for all adults seeking to quit various products including cigarettes, waterpipes, smokeless tobacco products, cigars, roll-your-own tobacco as well as heated tobacco products (HTPs).
“These guideline marks a crucial milestone in our global battle against dangerous products and will empower countries with essential tools to effectively support individuals in quitting tobacco as well as alleviate the global burden of tobacco-related diseases,” says WHO Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhano.
According to WHO, over 60 percent of the worlds 1,25 billion tobacco users wish to quit with 70 percent lacking access to effective cessation services, a gap that WHO says exists due to challenges faced by health systems including limitation of resources.
“The immense struggle that people face when trying to quit smoking cannot be overstated therefore, we need to deeply appreciate the strength it takes and suffering endured by individuals and their loved ones to overcome this addiction,” said Dr. Rudiger Krech, Director of health promotion at WHO, adding that the guidelines are designed to help communities and governments provide best possible support and assistance for those affected.
In 2023, WHO had initiated a prequalification procedure for medicinal products against disorders caused by tobacco use in order to improve global access to recommended tobacco cessation medications and with this, Kenvue’s nicotine gum and patch become the first WHO prequalified NRT product in April2024.
Furthermore, WHO says that combining pharmacotherapy with behavioral interventions will significantly increase quitting success rates while encouraging countries to provide these treatments at no or reduced costs to improve accessibility, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Finally, WHO further encourages healthcare providers, policy makers and relevant stakeholders to adopt these guidelines to promote tobacco cessation as well as improve the health of millions of people in need worldwide.
