The objective of this paper is to present cigarette smoking as the greatest risk factor for premature death, the nature of smoking dependence, the methods for its cessation, and to establish the importance of the leadership of health care providers in smoking prevention. Because smoking as a risk factor is preventable, it is necessary to conduct rigorous preventive measures, including educational programs and various legal actions, such as restrictions on the purchase of tobacco products to teenagers and creation of smoke-free areas. Reduction in the prevalence of smoking among physicians and other health care professionals also significantly influences willingness of society to recognize the health consequences of smoking and perhaps lead to the decline of the smoking epidemic. Therefore, a special attempt should be made to reduce smoking among health professionals, including medical students. An effort of medical students in Yugoslavia to promote prevention of smoking in the public by introducing "January 31st--A Day Without a Cigarette" is described. The best way to discourage smoking is by approaching children and adolescents since most people start smoking in their teenage years. This age group must recognize the harmful effects of smoking. Banning advertising and other promotional activities of tobacco producers, as well as smoking in hospitals, workplaces, restaurants, and public transportation is a very strong weapon against smoking.
本文的目的是阐述吸烟是过早死亡的最大风险因素、吸烟成瘾的本质、戒烟方法，并确立医疗保健提供者在预防吸烟方面的领导作用的重要性。由于吸烟作为一种风险因素是可以预防的，因此有必要采取严格的预防措施，包括开展教育项目以及各种法律行动，如限制向青少年出售烟草制品和设立无烟区。降低医生和其他医疗保健专业人员中的吸烟率，也会显著影响社会认识吸烟对健康造成后果的意愿，并可能导致吸烟流行率的下降。因此，应特别努力减少包括医学生在内的卫生专业人员中的吸烟现象。文中描述了南斯拉夫医学生通过开展“1月31日——无烟日”活动，在公众中推动吸烟预防的努力。劝阻吸烟的最佳方式是针对儿童和青少年，因为大多数人在青少年时期开始吸烟。这个年龄组必须认识到吸烟的有害影响。禁止烟草生产商的广告和其他促销活动，以及在医院、工作场所、餐馆和公共交通工具上吸烟，是抵制吸烟的有力武器。
