The tobacco epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean: A snapshot

Abstract

The tobacco epidemic continues to spread through Latin America and the Caribbean. Philip Morris and British American Tobacco Company control the market through their subsidiaries. In the past, governments in this region have shown little or no commitment to tobacco control. This, however, has changed in recent years as the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has been signed by most and ratified by several countries in the region. Non-governmental organizations, sometimes rallied by the InterAmerican Heart Foundation, have played a crucial role in supporting Treaty ratification. Latin America and the Caribbean have the momentum to move forward in tobacco control and also the support to approve the necessary legislation to halt the tobacco epidemic.