Smoking and tobacco control in Poland.

The study presents information on the use of tobacco and the health consequences over the past 20 years in Poland. During this time, Poland has been among the countries with the highest cigarette consumption in the world and a correspondingly high number of tobacco-related deaths. Data show that nowadays about 10 million Polish people smoke; in 1998 average annual, adult, cigarette consumption was over 3000. The greatest rate of smoking among men (64%) was recorded in 1974 and among women (33%) in 1986. Recently, there has been a significant decrease in the rate of smoking among men to 40%, and among women to 23%. This favourable change has improved health indices such as infant mortality, life expectancy, and a lower rate of increase in male deaths from lung cancer. Government organizations as well as medical organizations and universities have become involved in prevention of smoking and tobacco control in Poland and the latest legislation is described.