Italian
The slogan chosen by the WHO for World No Tobacco Day 2025, celebrated today, Saturday, May 31, is “Mask Down! Exposing the tactics of tobacco and nicotine industries to make their products attractive”.
TREVISO (TV): “These are tactics that not only encourage young people to start smoking, but also make it harder to quit, increasing the risk of addiction and long-term health consequences. The most common ones include the use of flavors and additives that enhance the taste and mask the harshness of tobacco, increasing the likelihood of continuous use and reducing the chances of quitting, the deceptive design of the product to make it resemble candies or toys, and marketing on digital media, focusing on attractive packaging,” Dr. Mauro Ramigni, head of the departmental Epidemiology unit of Ulss 2, specified.
TOBACCO AND NICOTINE CONSUMPTION NUMBERS IN TREVISO
In the Marca region, the percentage of smokers, not only among adults, has not decreased since 2010, remaining around 23% (27% among men, 18% among women), but if e-cigarette smokers are added, it reaches 25% (30% among men, 20% among women).
As is often the case with riskier lifestyle habits, such as smoking, it is more common among those with lower income and educational levels. Additionally, it is often associated with risky alcohol consumption.
Among teenagers, the situation is even worse and shows a higher prevalence of smoking among women. 28% of girls and 24% of boys smoke traditional cigarettes, adding electronic products this percentage increases to 32% and 26% respectively.Smoking habits increase with age: at 14 years old, 10% of boys and 17% of girls smoke (electric or traditional), while at 18 years old, 36% of boys and 44% of girls smoke. Even among teenagers, smoking is often associated with dangerous alcohol consumption.
In the province of Treviso, approximately 163,000 people still smoke, for a total of around 1,400,000 cigarettes per day.
All this also causes damage to the environment: to produce the cigarettes smoked in a year in our province, around 1,750 million liters of water are consumed, approximately the same amount used in a year by the residents of a small town like Conegliano or Castelfranco Veneto, not to mention the 500 million cigarette butts to be disposed of.
Health damages are well known but it is worth mentioning that in our province smoking is responsible for almost 15% of premature deaths (before the age of 80): about 415 deaths per year, of which about half are due to lung cancer, mostly among men (350 vs 65 women) and that smokers’ life expectancy is at least ten years lower than that of non-smokers.
THE CNDDU ALSO LAUNCHES AN APPEAL IN SCHOOLS
As part of the initiatives promoted for the school year 2024/2025, the CNDDU is launching the educational campaign “Smoking extinguishes. You ignite!”, a direct and impactful message designed to speak to young people in a language that is close, positive, and motivational. The goal is to stimulate reflection on identity, autonomy, and the right to health, encouraging conscious choices free from dependencies.
Within the campaign, the CNDDU proposes a participatory activity aimed at all secondary school students: creating an original slogan against smoking, to be shared on social media or in school contexts, with or without a symbolic photo that visually represents the chosen message. The most meaningful slogans will be collected and highlighted through the Coordination’s official channels, helping to give voice to youth creativity and their commitment to a healthier and more conscious future.
According to the ESPAD Italy 2023 study, conducted by the CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, over 1.2 million students in Italian secondary schools have smoked at least one cigarette in their lifetime, with a current consumption rate of 32% and a daily consumption rate of 19%. There is also a significant increase in the combined use of traditional cigarettes and nicotine-based electronic devices, involving more than 1.5 million students. Alarming is the trend of downplaying the risks associated with smoking: more than eight out of ten adolescents do not fully recognize its dangers.
Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in Italy, with over 93,000 deaths per year. It is linked to cardiovascular, respiratory, oncological, and metabolic diseases. Among the most significant damages:
- Lung carcinoma (85-90% of cases attributable to smoking)
- Heart attacks, strokes, and arterial diseases
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Pregnancy complications and risks for neonatal health
- Early aging and loss of muscle tone
Passive smoking also has serious repercussions, especially on children and pregnant women.
The CNDDU reiterates the importance of school as an educational and protective environment, where young people can grow in awareness of the value of health. The campaign “Il fumo spegne. Tu accenditi!” is designed to be integrated into Civic Education programs, actively involving students and teachers in laboratory, creative, and interdisciplinary activities.
The CNDDU also promotes the adoption and dissemination of materials from the “No Smoking Be Happy” project by the Umberto Veronesi Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Merit, focusing on prevention and well-being.
The National Coordination of Teachers of Human Rights invites all Italian schools to actively participate in World No Tobacco Day, dedicating time and spaces to moments of reflection, discussion, and creativity against the culture of addiction.
Educating towards the freedom to choose means giving voice to the future. “Smoking extinguishes. Ignite yourself” is not just a slogan, but an invitation to live fully, to believe in oneself and in one’s own potential.
ULSS 2 PATHS TO QUIT SMOKING
Dealing with tobacco addiction is a complex journey, which is why the Department for Addictions of the Local Health Authority 2 offers a support service to help promote positive changes with an integrated and personalized multiprofessional approach.
Inside each Ser.D office of the three Districts there is a Smoking Treatment Clinic available for free, by appointment only:
District Treviso – Ser.D Treviso 0422 323720
District of Pieve – Ser.D Conegliano 0438 663850
Asolo District – Ser.D Castelfranco 0423 732759
The treatment to quit smoking consists of a cycle that includes 5 to 10 sessions over a few months and provides a range of personalized interventions.
Implementing outpatient services in our territory are the “TG FUMO” groups that offer an effective specialist treatment. These groups are held periodically throughout the year in different company locations, in collaboration with accredited social services and municipalities. The groups are led by a psychologist and an educator, supported by other professionals (doctor, dietitian, movement expert). Sharing experiences with those who are going through similar situations helps to feel understood and strengthens motivation, offering collective and specialized support throughout the detoxification process.
For further information and advice, please refer to the Indipendo website https://www.aulss2.veneto.it/Indipendo-Tabacco-Cos-la-dipendenza-da-tabacco
