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Brazilian public health smoking cessation initiatives

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2026-09-05 22:57 UTC → 2026-09-19 21:19 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Public health authorities in Brazil are intensifying smoking cessation and lung cancer prevention efforts as tobacco consumption trends reverse. After nearly two decades of decline, the adult smoking population reached 11.7% in 2024, according to Vigitel data. To combat these trends, the Ministry of Health launched the “Conte o que o cigarro não mostra” (Tell what the cigarette does not show) campaign. This initiative gathers personal testimonies from smokers, former smokers, and their families to inform new cigarette packaging imagery, focusing on the qualitative impacts of tobacco on social relationships, mental well-being, and daily routines. On the municipal level, efforts are expanding significantly. In São Paulo, the municipal health network reported a 257% increase in tobacco user services, rising from 4,262 in 2021 to 15,220 in 2025, with 11,206 services recorded in the first half of 2026 alone. In Socorro, the Municipal Smoking Combat Group provides multidisciplinary support, including clinical evaluation and cognitive-behavioral ~~therapy, integrating oral health and physical education to manage anxiety and cardiovascular health.~~ therapy. Other localized efforts include support groups in Divinópolis, multidisciplinary discussions in Maceió, and the Municipal Smoking Control Program in ~~Salvador,~~ Salvador. Recent expansions include the Municipal Tobacco Control Program in São José, which ~~recorded over 2,500 services between 2023~~ offers free treatment through Basic Health Units (UBS), providing clinical evaluations and ~~April 2026.~~ medication management. In Maceió, the Professor Alberto Antunes University Hospital (HUPAA-Ufal/HU Brasil) has introduced a specialized one-year Tobacco Control Program with 75 vacancies, focusing on behavioral changes through structured weekly, biweekly, and monthly sessions. Health experts continue to emphasize that while some lung damage may be irreversible, quitting smoking significantly reduces the risk of lung cancer. Authorities also remain concerned about electronic smoking devices, which are prohibited by ~~Anvisa, as many young people incorrectly perceive them as harm-reduction tools.~~ Anvisa.

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