Amman, May 31 (Petra) -- HRH Princess Ghida Talal, Chairperson of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center, launched an awareness campaign under the slogan: "Don’t Choose This Path," coinciding with World No Tobacco Day, observed on May 31.

Talking at the launching ceremony, Princess Ghida said smoking is a global health disaster, adding that combating this phenomenon is a duty toward future generations.

She called for altering the painful reality of smoking prevalence in Jordan by using all available resources and scientific expertise.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the risks of smoking and nicotine addiction, which are directly linked to more than 16 types of cancer. Smoking is a leading cause of lung cancer and the second leading cause of death after heart disease.

According to official statistics, around 9,000 deaths are recorded annually in Jordan due to smoking, while smokers account for 51% of Jordanians, placing the Kingdom among the countries with the "highest" smoking rates globally.

The campaign, launched with support from the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company, comes amid the spread of smoking among young people in the Kingdom.

The data also show smoking rates stand at 59% among those aged 25-34, 50% among those aged 18-24, and 31% among those aged 15-17.

Meanwhile, some 38.6% of smokers began using tobacco or nicotine products before the age of 18, negatively affecting brain development and lung growth.

Early smoking is also linked to poor concentration, increased anxiety, and lower academic achievement during childhood and adolescence.

Smoking cessation services are available in Jordan through Ministry of Health clinics across the Kingdom, as well as the smoking cessation clinic at the King Hussein Cancer Center.

These services provide treatment programs that include behavioral and medical support for people wishing to quit smoking, delivered by physicians specialized in treating tobacco addiction.

//Petra// AO