Tobacco Use and Disease, Epidemiology of

Tobacco use is the world's leading cause of preventable death, resulting in millions of deaths annually, more than deaths due to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. The use of tobacco products leads to nicotine addiction, making cessation much more challenging for those trying to quit. At the societal level, tobacco use has both direct and indirect economic costs, such as providing treatment for tobacco-related diseases and reduced productivity as a result of illness. This entry reviews the definition and distribution of tobacco use and addiction, discusses the risk factors involved, and presents the policies that address this global epidemic.