According to the global health body, more than 750 million of the world's 1.25 billion tobacco users, or more than 60 percent, want to quit.
Yet 70 percent of people do not have access to effective cessation services, including resource limitations, WHO said.
WHO recommends a comprehensive set of tobacco cessation interventions, including behavioral support delivered by health care providers, digital cessation interventions, and pharmacological treatments, in the first guidelines on tobacco cessation.
It said the guidelines are relevant to all adults seeking to quit a variety of tobacco products, including cigarettes, water pipes, smokeless tobacco products, cigars, roll-your-own tobacco and heated tobacco products (HTPs).
“This guidance is an important milestone in our global fight against these dangerous products,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
"It empowers countries with the tools they need to effectively support individuals to quit tobacco and reduce the global burden of tobacco-related diseases," he said.
Furthermore, WHO stated that combining medications with behavioral interventions significantly increased the success rate of quitting smoking.
The UN health body called on countries to provide these treatments for free or at low cost to improve access, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
It also recommends varenicline, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), bupropion and cytisine as effective treatments for tobacco cessation.
Yet 70 percent of people do not have access to effective cessation services, including resource limitations, WHO said.
WHO recommends a comprehensive set of tobacco cessation interventions, including behavioral support delivered by health care providers, digital cessation interventions, and pharmacological treatments, in the first guidelines on tobacco cessation.
It said the guidelines are relevant to all adults seeking to quit a variety of tobacco products, including cigarettes, water pipes, smokeless tobacco products, cigars, roll-your-own tobacco and heated tobacco products (HTPs).
“This guidance is an important milestone in our global fight against these dangerous products,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
"It empowers countries with the tools they need to effectively support individuals to quit tobacco and reduce the global burden of tobacco-related diseases," he said.
Furthermore, WHO stated that combining medications with behavioral interventions significantly increased the success rate of quitting smoking.
The UN health body called on countries to provide these treatments for free or at low cost to improve access, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
It also recommends varenicline, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), bupropion and cytisine as effective treatments for tobacco cessation.
