Jordan Daily – Dr. Larissa Al-Wir delivered an important lecture at the Rotary Club of Amman Cosmopolitan, highlighting the reality of smoking in Jordan, its health and social impacts, and the challenges and opportunities in combating smoking.
Dr. Al-Wir stated that smoking rates in Jordan are among the highest in the world, with official statistics indicating that more than half of the population are smokers, at a rate of 51.6%, including 53% of Jordanians and 49% of other nationalities residing in the Kingdom.
She also noted that smoking rates among women have increased significantly over the past two decades, representing a new health challenge.
She explained that secondhand smoke also poses a significant risk to public health, with approximately 65% of non-smokers being exposed to secondhand smoke in the workplace and at home, despite laws prohibiting smoking in public places. Dr. Al-War added that smoking cessation attempts remain low, with only 37% of smokers attempting to quit within the past year, while consumption of cigarettes and various tobacco products, such as hookah and e-cigarettes, continues to rise. Smoking-related cancer rates among women have increased over the past decade, increasing 28-fold, a direct reflection of the quadrupling of women’s smoking rates over the past 20 years.
Al -Wir pointed to the high economic costs of smoking for the state and society, in addition to the close relationship between smoking and the high incidence of cancer and chronic diseases, especially among women. She explained that the average cost of smoking per person reaches 78 dinars per month, while the cost of treating diseases resulting from smoking amounts to billions of dinars. Even if the state’s income from tobacco taxes is included, the cost of treating smoking-related diseases remains more than one billion dinars annually.
She also warned against the influence of tobacco companies, which invest billions of dollars annually to promote their products, stressing that combating smoking requires the cooperation of all parties, including the government, civil society, and health institutions.
Dr. Al-Wir concluded her lecture by emphasizing the need to strictly implement international tobacco control agreements in Jordan. She urged increased awareness and support for smokers who wish to quit. Following a discussion with the lecturer, club president Ghada Al-Fanak honored the lecturer, Larissa Al-War, with a flag and a certificate of appreciation.