Too many Belgians smoke. Every year, the Cancer Foundation recalls the devastating effects of smoking on our health. And for good reason, one in five cancers is caused by smoking and therefore would not exist if we did not smoke at all; Smoking causes nearly 30% of cancer deaths and steals the lives of more than 14,000 people each year in Belgium where nearly one person in five is considered a smoker.
As part of World Tobacco Day organized this Friday, May 31, the Cancer Foundation is calling for a huge boost to improve support for quitting smoking. Nicotine replacement treatments are indeed overpriced in our country, particularly for disadvantaged people. “It’s a really very complicated situation, help to stop smoking is relegated to second or even third place in Belgium”, regrets Nora Mélard, tobacco prevention expert within the Foundation. “Today, if we hesitate between buying a pack of cigarettes or a nicotine substitute, the question no longer even arises because the substitute costs too much even if it can be profitable after a few weeks. Under the last legislature, there were many measures put in place but nothing to help addicted people with their treatment, which will hopefully become a priority for the next government.”
Here are the new places where smoking is prohibited
Alongside measures expected and put in place by the Minister of Health such as the increase in the price of packets and the increase in tobacco-free spaces, the Foundation calls on the authorities to provide more support to people who wish to get rid of this addiction.
And given the prices offered, disadvantaged people are unsurprisingly less likely to turn to healthcare services.
“Smoking should be considered as a problem in its own right in our healthcare systemshe continues. NRT (the famous nicotine substitutes) in the form of a patch, spray or other are effective in stopping tobacco consumption but they are very expensive; you can find some for example at 225 euros for a period of 12 weeks. And alongside these treatments, it is important to be able to consult a tobacco specialist to treat the social, behavioral and psychological aspects of addiction. There are reimbursements (30 euros for the first sessions then 20 euros thereafter up to 8 sessions after consultation in Brussels and Wallonia) but this is not yet very common and there is a lack of available information regarding these offers of care”.
Smoking costs Belgians more than 1,000 euros per year, including those who do not smoke! The electronic cigarette, an alternative to tobacco, remains discouraged by professionals: “It generates toxic substances”
