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Episode details

World Service,21 Dec 1999,23 mins

Smoking - The Habit That World Doesn't Want To Give Up

Health Matters

Available for over a year

Smoking was once seen as a cure for illnesses but is now a global public health issue. The programme looks at the history of tobacco consumption, which was originally adopted by American Indians. It was seen as a beneficial habit but by the 1950s research was overwhelming and it is now the biggest cause of preventable illness worldwide. At least 15 per cent of the world's population smoke and the number is rising.

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