IntroductionThe tobacco epidemic killed 100 million people worldwide in the 20th century. The tobacco epidemic could kill 1 billion in the 21st century alone. Smoking is responsible for the deaths of one in ten adults worldwide (around 5 million deaths per year) and, if the current smoking pattern continues, by 2030 the proportion will be one in six, around 10 million of deaths per year (World Bank, 1999). . This means that approximately 500 million people alive today will eventually be killed by tobacco (Peto et al, 1994). Since the 1950s, more than 70,000 scientific articles have left no doubt that smoking is an extraordinarily important cause of premature mortality and disability worldwide. the world. In populations where cigarette smoking has been common for several decades, approximately 90% of cases of lung cancer, 15-20% of cases of other cancers, 75% of cases of chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and 25% of deaths from cardiovascular disease in those aged 35 to 69 years are attributable to tobacco. Studies have shown that half of all long-term smokers will die of a tobacco-related disease and, of these, half will die before the age of 65 (World Bank, 1999). The 2009 Global Adult Tobacco Survey estimates that the prevalence of smoking among adults in the Philippines is 28.3%, which equates to 17.3 million Filipinos aged 15 years and older smoking cigarettes. 47.7% (14.6 million) and 9.0% (2.8 million) of the population aged 15 and over are male and female smokers respectively. The 2007 Global Youth Tobacco Survey also estimates that approximately 17% or 4 million Filipino youth aged 13 to 15 are also current smokers. (Department of Health, 2010) Tobacco is predicted to kill over 175 million people worldwide between 2005 and 2030 (Mathers &...... middle of paper ......r 2010)Benowitz , N.L. (1996 ). Pharmacology of nicotine: addiction and therapy. Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 36, 597-613Kozlowski, LT, Henningfield, J.E., Brigham, J. (2001) Cigarettes Nicotine and Health. Sage Publications Ltd. London. UK Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Annual mortality attributable to smoking, years of potential life lost, and productivity losses: United States, 2000-2004. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2008;57(45):1226–8 [accessed 11 November] US Department of Health and Human Services. The health consequences of smoking: a report from the surgeon general. Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2004 [accessed November 11]