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In 2024, Brazil recorded the first increase in the prevalence of adult smokers since 2007, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Health. The folder states that there was a growth from 9.3% to 11.6% in the proportion of smokers.
The research was conducted in capitals and the Federal District/Photo: Reproduction
The survey was conducted in capital and the Federal District and presented on Wednesday (28), during an event of the ministry alluding to world-tobacco day, officially celebrated on May 31. The increase is the first observed in the historical series of the survey.
The same data indicate that 13.8% of adult men smoke, against 11.7% in the previous year. The percentage for women rose from 7.2% to 9.8% in 2024.
“By 2023 there was already a slight increase [no consumo] between 18 and 34 years old. Now on the overall average we observed this increase. It is urgent that we will intervene more harshly about the actions that we know that work, especially communicating with young people, who are returning to smoking, ”said the director of Daent (Department of Epidemiological Analysis and Non-Transmitted Disease Surveillance) of the Ministry of Health, Leticia de Oliveira Cardoso.
The ministry stressed that there was a relative increase of 25% of total smokers.
“For the first time since 2007 we have a point that is rising in the curve, this has never been seen. It is a very worrying fact and I’m not talking about the electronic cigarette, but the cigarette. The prevalence of smokers among adults increased for the first time in the historical series,” he said.
The same survey points out that 2.6% of adults in the capitals used, in the last year, electronic cigarette daily or occasionally. In 2023, this percentage was 2.1%. The ministry considers that there is a scenario of stability.
Among women, however, the use of electronic cigarettes rose from 1.4% to 2.6% in 2024. Preliminary data point to a reduction from 2.9% to 2.5% of the percentage of adult men using these devices.
“Even if it is stable, it is the highest point since 2019, when we begin to monitor, showing a trend of increase,” said Cardoso.
In the same event, the Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha (PT), said that it is necessary to do “contrary propaganda” to the tobacco derivatives. “Disseminate negative impacts on health, in the economy,” said Padilha.
The Ministry of Health estimates the percentage of smokers in Brazil since 2006 through Vigitel research, which is done by telephone calls. In the first year, the study pointed out that 15.7% of the adult population of the capitals smoked.
The folder said the next surveys will also be made with the population that does not live in the capitals.
The Executive Secretary of Conicq (National Commission for the Implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control), Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, said that taxation on the cigarette is outdated. She stated that the selective tax, provided for in the tax reform, to “change the curve of consumption”, expected.
Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) has been prohibiting since 2009 the importation, advertising and marketing of products officially called DEF (smoking electronic devices), a category that includes electronic cigarettes and vapes. In 2024, the agency decided to keep the veto by considering that there is no data pointing out benefits on product regularization.
The Ministry of Health also released on Wednesday (28) study by INCA (National Cancer Institute) pointing out that the federal government spends $ 5 on smoke-related diseases for every $ 1 profit from the tobacco industry.
The same survey attributes one death for every R $ 156,000 of companies with the sale of legal cigarettes. The survey crossed 2019 data and considered smoking -related deaths, such as ischemic heart disease, stroke and lung cancer.
