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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

Russia, graphic tobacco warning labels, cigarette

College

Life Sciences

Department

Health Science

Abstract

Gennadiy Onishchenko, Russia’s chief state public health officer, labeled Russia’s tobacco problem “the nicotine genocide of the Russian people” (Moscow News, 2008). The Russian Federation has emerged from the socio-economic pressures of communism and its downfall to become the 4th largest consumer of cigarettes per capita worldwide (Myers, 2008). According to the World Health Organization [WHO] (2008a), in 2005 70% of Russian males smoked and almost 27% of females smoked, totaling a staggering 1 in every 2 Russians smoking. Russia also boasts a forebodingly high adolescent smoking prevelance (30.1% of adolescent males and 24.4% of adolescent females smoke), signifying that the “nicotine genocide” will continue unless robust tobacco policies are soon adopted.

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