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1.0 Assessment of tobacco use and tobacco dependence

QC1. Regarding smoking cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or a pipe, which of Tobacco dependence is a disease, which drives the vast majority of
the following applies to you? In this question and the following questions tobacco use among adults. Tobacco dependence is associated with
in this section, smoking cigarettes does not include use of electronic
cigarettes. the long-term, daily use of tobacco-based products (cigarettes,
pipes, cigars, bidis, hookahs, chewing tobacco etc.). Most smokers
are unable to stop smoking at their own will. In medical terms
chronic smoking is defined as: tobacco dependence, nicotine
dependence, tobacco addiction or nicotine addiction.
26%
Doctors and health professionals must therefore take into
28% account that tobacco dependence is a medical condition and not a
habit, vice, pleasure, or life-style choice.
The main etiological factor of tobacco dependence disease is
54% 51%
nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug which is contained
in tobacco and which determines dependence in those who use
tobacco products chronically. Even though, depending on the
21% intensity, duration of use and type of tobacco product used, not
20%
all tobacco users follow the same risk pattern, the response of
health professionals to tobacco use must be one: to treat the
smokers’ tobacco dependence without delay.
As tobacco dependence is a disease, it must be diagnosed and
You currently smoke You have never smoked
treated in the same way as other chronic diseases. A health
You used to smoke but you have stopped Don’t know professional has the duty to intervene and initiate tobacco
cessation. Prompt initiation of treatment for tobacco dependence
Inner pie: EB77.1 Feb.-Mar. 2012, Outer pie: EB82.4 Nov.-Dec. 2014
is a good practice for doctors and health professionals, as tobacco
“Just over a quarter of respondents in the EU currently smoke boxed consumption is mainly driven by tobacco dependence: only in
cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or a pipe (26%), which represents a two very exceptional cases is tobacco smoking driven by a smoker’s
percentage point decrease since 2012” free choice of life-style. It is bad practice not to treat or arrange for
Eurobarometer 2015
treatment of tobacco-dependent patients. At minimum clinician’s
Figure 1.1: Intervening with tobacco users in clinical settings
1.1 Tobacco use is a disease
Minimal Counseling
Tobacco use is the leading cause of premature death and disability
1,2
in Europe. Each year, more than 700,000 Europeans die from Neutral practice
tobacco-related illness. It is a known fact that a smokers’ life Do nothing Take care of all smokers
2
expectancy is ten years shorter than that of a non-smoker and half Bad practice Good practice
of tobacco users will lose 20 years of healthy life before dying from
a tobacco-related disease. 3

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