[Distribution and patterns of tobacco consumption in Germany]

Tobacco consumption increases the risk of many chronic degenerative diseases and causes considerable social follow-up costs. The ongoing high tobacco consumption in the population, therefore, highlights an area in which health policy action is urgently required. According to the Telephone Health Survey 2003, about 37% of men aged 18 years and older and 28% of women of the same age are smokers. Almost half of the male daily smokers and a third of the female daily smokers consume 20 or more cigarettes a day, thus exposing themselves to a serious health risk. Among persons of socially disadvantaged groups, smoking prevalence is particularly high; they are also more likely to be heavy smokers and less likely to stop smoking. In the last 20 years, tobacco consumption has only declined slightly among men, while it has increased among women. These results underline the necessity for comprehensive tobacco prevention and tobacco control, and this means not only general measures but also initiatives focusing on specific target groups.