Thailand has seen a decline in smokers and efforts are being made to reduce the number of new smokers, a conference was told yesterday.
The number has consistently dropped from 12.26 million in 1991 to 10.7 million, said Dr Opas Kankawinphong, deputy permanent secretary for public health, citing figures published by the National Statistical Office.
He was speaking at the 17th national conference on cigarettes and health, which began yesterday in Bangkok.
Dr Opas said it was important to step up efforts to prevent 15- to 24-year-olds from taking up the habit while urging smokers to quit to curb associated illnesses.
One in three people say they have been exposed to second-hand smoke in public places, which should be smoke-free zones under the tobacco control law, said Supreeda Adulyanon, manager of Thai Health Promotion Foundation.
