Smoking in Mexico
Puente Silva, F.G.
Boletin de la Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana. Pan American Sanitary Bureau 101(3): 234-246
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-0632 PMID: 2944522 Document Number: 274989
This articles stresses the importance of smoking as an international public health problem, summarizes what has been learned from research in this field, and tells about the steps taken in some countries to counteract the dangers of smoking. The epidemiological aspects of smoking in Mexico are discussed on the basis of the findings of surveys of several populations, conducted to determine the prevalence and incidence of smoking, the starting age, and the numbers of cigarettes smoked per day by respondents. The author states the problems associated with the economics of the production and advertising of tobacco products and the legislation on the subject in the General Health Law promulgated in 1984. He underscores the high risk to the health of children, adolescents and women from both active and passive smoking and its value in predicting cancer, pneumonopathies, chronic cardiovascular diseases, and fetal damage. He also describes the therapeutic and research models carried out in this country by several health institutions, and itemizes the psychological, psychiatric and medical-biological mechanisms that guide the programs of behavioral and behavioral-cognitive programs and those for the administration of nicotine in chewing gum. Finally, he presents some of the salient findings of studies carried out in smoking clinics with general public, a group of patients with respiratory and cardiovascular problems, and a group of pregnant women.