Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries in the world to take a position against smoking. From its founding by the late King Abdul Aziz, the Kingdom has taken a tough stand against smoking, making it a standing policy to fight the deadly addiction. The stand was no doubt taken based on religious conviction since Islam forbids people from inflicting harm on themselves and others.
The problem is that it has taken us too long to reinforce the anti-smoking campaign by enacting harsh laws that ban it and dry up its sources. The legislation did finally come but only after 50 years and then after many false moves in the right direction.
Many Arab countries, including Kuwait and Morocco, were ahead of us in enacting anti-smoking measures. Now we have passed a law which we should implement vigorously at both the official and unofficial levels.
The least that can be said about smokers in the Kingdom, whether male or female and especially students, is that their numbers are appalling. A study by the Ministry of Education of 752 male students in public intermediate and secondary schools in Dammam showed that 30 percent of them are smokers and that 90 percent had begun smoking at an early age.
The study also revealed that 55 percent of students in the final year of secondary school are not really aware of the dangers or the consequences of addiction to tobacco. Almost 66 percent of smokers are between 12 and 17 years of age.
Another sad and unfortunate fact is the number of women doctors who smoke. According to one report, 17 percent of women doctors in Riyadh smoke.
The list of frightening figures is long. Statistics from a number of girls’ schools in Makkah show the percentage of smokers among elementary and secondary school students to range from 35 percent to 55 percent. The rate is even higher among teachers.
There are some six million smokers in the Kingdom — Saudis, expatriates, males and females. SR8.8 billion worth of cigarettes and tobacco is consumed every year. Smokers at coffee houses who smoke shisha spend some SR255 million every year.
The health hazards and other devastating effects of smoking have long been recognized by the World Health Organization and other international bodies. The WHO regards smoking as even more dangerous than such diseases as AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
What is required is a concerted, joint effort involving the government, the media and other civil organizations as well as the smokers themselves. The effort must be made to educate the population, especially the youth, on the dangers of smoking. This should be backed up and supported by strong legal measures which are unfailingly enforced. Smokers must fear God and stop harming themselves and others. They ought to donate the money they spend on smoking to charities.
- Arab News Local Press 21 September 2003
