New statistics presented by a public committee for the
examination of ways to restrict smoking and curb its damages
indicate that as many as 25% of the deaths in Israel are
caused by smoking. Approximately 10,000 people a year die as
a result of smoking hazards. 1400 of these are passive
smokers harmed by exposure to the smoking of others.
These statistics point to a situation far more serious than
commonly assumed. Previous reports stated that 6000 people a
year die in Israel as a result of smoking. The new statistics
are based on information culled by the Health Minister, by
the Central Bureau of Statistics and additional bodies.
Smoking is known to be a leading factor in lung and other
types of cancer. Only 20% of those who died from the side
effects of smoking, however, suffered from cancer. 74% of the
active smokers and 50% of the passive ones suffered heart
ailments, strokes and arterial illness. Additional deaths due
to smoking are the results of illnesses in the respiratory
organs and the lungs.
An additional shocking statistic: An average of 42 infants
and 46 children under the age of a 15 are included among
those dying as a result of passive smoking after having been
exposed for long periods to cigarette smoking at home and at
work. The deaths stemmed from mortality factors linked to
smoking, such as crib death and low birth weight in infants.
Recent years' anti-smoking campaigns have succeeded in
reducing rates of smoking in Israel. Since '94, 28% of the
Jewish population (32% of the men) smoke, in comparison with
the 42% in '70. On the other hand, an increase in the number
of deaths linked to smoking has been noted.
Dr. Tuvia Lehrer of the Department for Health Education in
the Health Ministry, who is responsible for the issue of
smoking tobacco and its products, recently told Yated
Ne'eman that a committee of experts presented a list of 23
recommendations to the public committee headed by Justice
Eilon which examined ways to restrict smoking and to limit
its hazards. Among the recommendations are a series of laws
meant to curb the early stages of smoking among youth and
warnings against the damages of passive smoking.
The committee recommended banning all advertisement of
tobacco products and the granting of patronage by cigarette
company advertising. It also recommended enlarging and
emphasizing the warning appearing on cigarette boxes;
enacting a law protecting children from smoking, to
include prohibition of smoking near children at home and in
cars. The committee also recommends enacting a health
insurance differential, according to which smokers will pay
more in accordance with their higher risk level.
