Tobacco epidemic is one of the greatest public health threats the world has faced, killing more than 7 million people a year. More than 6 million of these deaths are the result of direct tobacco use, while about 890,000 are the result of non-smokers' exposure to secondhand smoke. About 80% of the 1.1 billion smokers worldwide live in low and middle income countries where the severity of tobacco-related diseases and deaths is the worst. Tobacco users who die prematurely deprive their families of income, increase healthcare costs and hinder economic development.
