Public Health Issues in Treating Tobacco Use

Comprehensive strategies are needed to prevent initiation of tobacco use, to help users quit, and to reduce morbidity, mortality and indirect social costs. Using an agent-host-vector model for disease, all forms of tobacco are the “agent,” whether they are manufactured by large companies or are traditional tobacco products. “Host” refers to tobacco users and everyone else because all are in some way adversely affected, including the unborn. The “vector” is the tobacco industry. The public needs truth, tobacco dependent victims require help, and the tobacco industry needs accountability and restraint.