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Diari de Catalunya

Health reinforces fight against tobacco: historic low consumption but 10,000 annual deaths

The Department of Health is promoting new campaigns and resources to reduce tobacco consumption and prevent initiation among young people.

Generic image of an e-cigarette device.
IA

Generic image of an e-cigarette device.

The Department of Health has presented new actions to combat smoking in Catalonia, despite consumption reaching a historic low of 20.6%, tobacco continues to cause nearly 10,000 deaths annually.

The institutional campaign, under the slogan "Smoking is shit", uses direct language to raise awareness about the risks of tobacco. Initially launched late last year, its duration has been extended to maintain a continuous presence throughout the year, especially in audiovisual media.
The initiative has a dual objective: to encourage smoking cessation among the adult population and to prevent adolescents from starting nicotine addiction. The campaign has achieved an estimated coverage of 82.7% in the population over 18 years old, with a particular focus on the 25 to 45 age group.
Data from the Catalan Health Survey (ESCA) places tobacco consumption prevalence at 20.6%, the lowest point in the historical series, with approximately 1.5 million smokers. The gender gap persists, with 25.3% of men smoking compared to 16.1% of women. The health regions of Girona (23.8%), Penedès (22.7%), and Lleida (21%) show the highest rates, while Barcelona city records the lowest (16.2%). Consumption is also higher among individuals with fewer resources and lower educational levels.
Regarding new products, the consumption of electronic cigarettes or vapes remains at low levels (1.3%), but experimentation is significant, with 11.1% of the population aged 15 and over having used them previously.
Smoking is responsible for 13% of deaths in Catalonia, nearly 10,000 annually. Exposure to environmental smoke at home has significantly decreased, affecting 7.2% of non-smoking adults and 6.5% of children. However, 8.7% of pregnant women continue to smoke.
Health support proves to be crucial for quitting smoking, with 72,980 people succeeding last year. Hospital treatments have also increased, and the overall cessation rate stands at 48.6%, with higher values among the elderly and those of middle socioeconomic status.
Health advice has become a fundamental tool, with 62% of smokers receiving professional support. This model is supported by networks such as the Smoke-Free Primary Care Network and the Catalan Network of Smoke-Free Hospitals, complemented by pharmacies and the 061 Salut Respon service.
Daily tobacco consumption among young people aged 14 to 18 has halved in two decades, but the rise of "new smoking" with e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches is concerning. 46.9% of adolescents have used e-cigarettes at some point.
The Secretariat of Public Health maintains constant inspection activity to ensure compliance with the Tobacco Law, with 7,592 inspections conducted in 2025, resulting in 140 cases and 139 sanctions. Citizen collaboration has led to 131 complaints.
The XXVII Smoke-Free Week, themed "Inhale Life", and World No Tobacco Day focus on dismantling industry strategies to attract young people to nicotine products.
Citizens have resources such as Primary Care centers, medications prescribed by nurses, the 061 Salut Respon telephone line, and the eConsulta tool to quit smoking.

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