“One in five children affected”: Shocking figures on smoking in Senegal and the urgent need for treatment

The fight against tobacco cannot be won without genuine medical treatment for nicotine addiction. This is the powerful message delivered by Professor Yacine Diagne during World No Tobacco Day 2026. Senegal has indeed chosen June 15th to celebrate this day in Dakar.

Addressing health authorities and partners in attendance, the president of the Senegalese Society of Pulmonology emphasized that smoking is not simply a bad habit, but an addictive disease that progressively destroys the health of smokers. She stressed that in pulmonology departments, doctors are confronted daily with the devastating effects of lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic respiratory failure caused by tobacco.

While welcoming the progress made possible by the anti-smoking law, Professor Diagne believes that prevention and prohibition are no longer sufficient. According to her, addicted smokers need appropriate therapeutic support. "Willpower alone is not enough," she emphasized, noting that the chances of quitting permanently remain very low without medical assistance. The pulmonologist therefore advocated for greater availability of nicotine replacement therapies, particularly patches, gums, and lozenges, which can alleviate withdrawal symptoms and significantly increase the chances of success.

However, these treatments remain rare in public structures and are often financially out of reach for a large part of the population.

To address this situation, she made three key demands: the inclusion of nicotine replacement therapies on the list of essential medicines, their subsidization to make them accessible to all, and the training of healthcare professionals to develop smoking cessation consultations in all regions of the country. This therapeutic approach aligns with the concerns expressed by health authorities. The Director General of Health, Dr. Youssou Tine, has indeed warned about the rise of new nicotine products targeting young people. Despite a 25% decrease in smoking among adults, the situation remains worrying since, according to official data, one in five Senegalese children has already tried tobacco, and the average age of initiation is now 7 years old. On behalf of the WHO, Dr. Louise Diouf also cautioned against the tobacco industry's seductive strategies, which use flavors, digital marketing, and new products to attract young consumers.

She reiterated that no form of nicotine consumption is harmless and called for a strengthening of the legal framework against these products. Ultimately, the various speakers converged on the same conclusion: the fight against tobacco must now combine prevention, regulation, and medical care to prevent a new generation of Senegalese from becoming addicted to nicotine. For Professor Diagne, this begins with a simple measure: providing smokers with the medical means to quit.