According to Mohammad Reza Sohrabi, the Deputy Health Minister of Beheshti University, the age of starting tobacco use in Iran has reached 9 years, and the lower the age of use, the harder it is to quit. The Mehr News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Propagation Organization, quoted Sohrabi as saying: 'The alarming statistics show an increase in smoking prevalence among women, which was 2.4% in 2016 and has risen to 4.2% in 2021.' Sohrabi emphasized that it has been 20 years since the anti-tobacco law was enacted, and the law needs to be revised. Mohammad Reza Masjedi, the director of the Iranian Tobacco Control Society, criticized the inaction of government agencies in combating tobacco, stating that 'the national tobacco control committee has not convened for eight years.' The president of the Iranian Internal Specialists Association also stated on December 6 that cigarette consumption has reached children as young as ten, which poses a risk of these children turning to drugs in the coming years. Dr. Iraj Khosravi, in an interview with Shafaqna, warned about the spread of tobacco use, particularly cigarettes and hookahs among adolescents and women, stating: 'Research shows that in the years before and shortly after the revolution, people tended to start smoking at older ages, but in the last two decades, this statistic has changed, and the number of child smokers has significantly increased.' Hamid Reza Shahson, the secretary of the Iranian Tobacco Control Society, also mentioned in May this year that cigarette production in the country has tripled compared to previous years, and the age of tobacco use has reached elementary school children. He also reported a 133% increase in smoking among women. Meanwhile, cigarette consumption has significantly decreased in most countries worldwide compared to previous decades, with the smoking population in the U.S. now at its lowest historical level, accounting for only 12% of the total population, down from 67% in the 1960s.
The Age of Starting Tobacco Use in Iran Reaches 9 Years
The age at which children in Iran start using tobacco has dropped to 9 years, raising concerns about future addiction and health risks. Officials are alarmed by the rising smoking rates among women and children, calling for urgent legal reforms and government action. This trend contrasts sharply with global declines in smoking rates.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The age at which children in Iran start using tobacco has dropped to 9 years, raising concerns about future addiction and health risks. Officials are alarmed by the rising smoking rates among women and children, calling for urgent legal reforms and government action.
- Smoking prevalence among women increased from 2.4% in 2016 to 4.2% in 2021.
- Cigarette production in Iran has tripled compared to previous years.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has seen a significant rise in tobacco use among children and women, despite global declines in smoking rates. The existing anti-tobacco laws have not effectively curbed this trend.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%