Number of Saudi smokers expected to climb steeply

The number of smokers in Saudi Arabia is expected to climb from six million now to 10 million in 2020, according to a Saudi Gazette story quoting the Al-Riyadh daily and citing a recent World Health Organization study.

About 40 percent of adult men, 10 percent of adult women and 15 percent of teenagers smoke, and together they get through about 12 billion cigarettes annually.

About 23,000 people in Saudi Arabia die of smoking-related causes every year and the number of people who have cancer caused by smoking is said to be about 10,000, with 80 percent of lung cancer patients identifying as smokers.

Meanwhile, Mubarak Al-Harthy, executive director of the Charitable Society for Former Drug Abusers, said a study the society had conducted had shown that 30 percent of school students between 13 and 15 years of age smoked cigarettes.

But it is not all bad news. Al-Harthy said many smokers believed it was difficult to quit the habit, but this was not true. With strong determination and will, a smoker could easily quit this habit, he said.

“Of course there are withdrawal symptoms but they can be treated and dealt with at specialized clinics for smokers who are trying to quit,” he added.

“The clinics, run by the Ministry of Health, can help smokers kick the habit and lead a healthy and long life.”