ABSTRACT
Tobacco is one of the greatest causes of preventable disease and death in the world today, and is destined to produce a devastating pandemic unless urgent preventive action is taken. Martin Jarvis (Chapter 15) has clearly shown the strength of the addiction and David Simpson (Chapter 48) has described the essential steps needed to protect the health of future generations. In this chapter I will describe the size of the problem, some of the diseases caused by tobacco addiction and the effects it has had on some individuals whom I have personally observed.
