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Türkiye is facing a looming public health crisis as cigarette smoking reaches record levels, raising urgent concerns about cancer and chronic diseases over the next decade, experts warn.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency Dr. Abdullah Ucar, member of the Yesilay Science Board and Public Health faculty at Sakarya University, described the nation’s tobacco consumption as “an alarm that cannot be ignored.”
Citing the OECD’s “Health at a Glance 2025” report, Dr. Ucar noted that Türkiye has the highest daily cigarette consumption among individuals aged 15 and older in OECD member countries.
With 46% of men and 23% of women smoking daily, an average of 35%, he warned that the country faces a significant rise in cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma in the coming 10–15 years.
Dr. Ucar also raised concerns over the growing use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products. While regulations exist in approximately 80 countries, enforcement remains weak in high-population regions such as India and China.
Preliminary studies suggest that these new products may contain carcinogenic additives, meaning users remain at risk of serious illnesses even without smoking traditional cigarettes.
Emphasizing prevention as the most effective strategy, Dr. Ucar urged citizens to seek support via the Ministry of Health’s “Alo 171” hotline and Yeşilay’s counseling centers. He also cautioned that media content glamorizing tobacco, alcohol, or gambling poses additional risks to society.
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