WHO releases first-ever clinical treatment guideline for tobacco cessation in adults – PAHO/WHO
Geneva, 2 July 2024 — The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a comprehensive package of smoking cessation interventions, including behavioural support from health care providers, digital smoking cessation interventions and pharmacological treatments in a first-ever guideline on tobacco cessation.
The guide focuses on helping the more than 750 million tobacco users who want to quit all forms of tobacco. The recommendations are relevant to all adults who want to quit using a variety of tobacco products, including cigarettes, waterpipes, smokeless tobacco products, cigars, roll-your-own tobacco, and heated tobacco products.
“This guideline marks a crucial milestone in our global battle against these dangerous products,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “It provides countries with essential tools to effectively help people quit smoking and alleviate the global burden of tobacco-related diseases.”
More than 60% of the world’s 1.25 billion tobacco smokers (over 750 million people) want to quit, but 70% lack access to effective cessation services. This gap exists due to challenges facing health systems, including resource constraints.
“The immense struggle faced by people trying to quit smoking cannot be overstated. We must deeply appreciate the strength it takes and the suffering endured by individuals and their loved ones to overcome this addiction,” said Dr Rüdiger Krech, WHO Director of Health Promotion. “These guidelines are designed to help communities and governments provide the best possible support and assistance to those embarking on this difficult journey.”
Effective therapies to quit smoking
Combining pharmacotherapy with behavioural interventions significantly increases quit success rates. Countries are encouraged to provide these treatments free or at a reduced cost to improve accessibility, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
WHO recommends varenicline, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), bupropion and cytisine as effective treatments for smoking cessation.
In 2023, WHO launched a prequalification process for medicines for tobacco use disorders to improve global access to medicines recommended for smoking cessation. In April 2024, Kenvue nicotine gum and patches became the first nicotine replacement therapy products to be prequalified by WHO.
WHO recommends behavioural interventions such as brief counselling (30 seconds to 3 minutes) routinely offered in health-care facilities, together with more intensive behavioural support (individual, group or telephone counselling) for interested users. In addition, digital interventions such as text messages, smartphone apps and internet programmes can be used as adjuncts or self-management tools.
WHO encourages health care providers, policy makers and stakeholders to adopt and implement these guidelines to promote tobacco cessation and improve the health of millions of people in need around the world.
