UN: 'Tobacco epidemic' could kill...

NEW YORK: The World Health Organization warned that the "tobacco epidemic" is growing and could claim 1 billion lives by the end of the century unless governments dramatically step up efforts to curb smoking.

In its first comprehensive report on tobacco use in 179 countries, the U.N.'s health agency said governments collect more than US$200 billion (€137 billion) in tobacco taxes every year but spend less than one fifth of 1 percent of that revenue on tobacco control programs that could prevent millions of deaths.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/08/america/NA-GEN-UN-Tobacco-Epidemic.php