Tobacco products contain nicotine, which causes a rapidly developing addiction. According to the international classification of diseases, smoking is classified as an addiction with the code F17.2, and abstinence syndrome with the code F17.3.
The pharmacological and behavioural processes that determine nicotine dependence are similar to the processes of dependence on other substances. Addiction in an individual is determined by the central nervous system's susceptibility to nicotine and its metabolism in the liver.
An individual's smoking is determined by his/hers personality, living environment, age at the beginning of smoking, education, employment and other demographic and socio-economic determinants.
Recommendations of European Commission (State of Health in the EU 2019) recommend adoption of models of good practise of smoking cessation among countries.
Slovenian Coalition for Public Health, Environment and Tobacco Control is working on models of good practise and innovative approaches in the field of smoking cessation and counselling for primary schoolschildren , secondary schools children, companies employees and especially for high-risk smoking population (pregnant women etc ). Our organisation is cooperating with public healthcare institutions in this field.
The European Network for Smoking Prevention's Accredited Curriculum on Tobacco Treatment is estimated to be the best recommendation (according to 45 medical doctors) for healthcare professionals and professionals working in the field of smoking cessation and tobacco consumption reducing (teachers, psychologists, social workers etc.).
Article 12 of FCTC also points out to awareness and participation of public and private agencies and nongovernmental organizations not affiliated with the tobacco industry in developing and implementing intersectoral programmes and strategies for tobacco control.
Our objective is help lower the number of smokers in Slovenia, increase the number of people who quit smoking, lower morbidity, help to improve the health of Slovenia and help to achieve the objectives of Tobacco-free Slovenia 2040 strategy and its 2030 objectives.