Ausmaß und Folgen des Tabakkonsums und Passivrauchens in Deutschland

In consequence of the health hazards of smoking and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and the high prevalence in the German population there are more than 100,000 deaths annually in Germany. Still more than half of the German population ever starts smoking and currently about a third of the adult population and a fifth of the adolescents are smokers at present. Additionally about 55 percent of all non-smokers between the age of 18 and 79 are often exposed to ETS at home, at work or in their leisure time. A differentiation of smoking prevalence and of exposure to ETS concerning socio-economic determinants shows that social differences have grown with successive birth cohorts. Thus, significant social inequalities can be observed today. In contrast to this, gender differences are becoming increasingly irrelevant, particularly in smoking prevalence. Tobacco consumption and ETS therefore has become one high-priority field of action of health and prevention politics in Germany, which manifests in an improved tobacco control policy. International achievements in the implementation of a comprehensive tobacco control policy show however, that in Germany further efforts are needed to reduce smoking prevalence significantly.