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The tobacco epidemic: 2nd, revised and extended edition
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This article was originally published by Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd and was migrated to Scientific Scholar after the change of Publisher.
This comprehensive book covers a wide range of topics from history to electronic cigarettes in 23 chapters, encompassing issues from almost the beginning to the most recent advances. Different issues such as chemistry of tobacco, nicotine dependence, adverse health effects, economic losses due to smoking, legislative and regulatory provisions have been adequately covered. Smoking cessation with pharmacotherapy as well as overall tobacco-control have also been discussed.
Each chapter provides an in depth discussion for easy understanding of the subject. The first chapter on the history provides an overview of the origin and spread of tobacco use across various continents.
The chapters on smokeless tobacco and passive smoking are informative. Similarly, the chapter on framework convention on tobacco control provides details of the treaty under the auspices of WHO. This is important for the information of not only doctors but also activists of different NGOs as well as policy makers.
The book is simple in language for an easy reading. There are a number of figures, tables and charts which make it further interesting and informative. All chapters have been authored by experts who specialize in the respective areas. The chapters are adequately referenced for the benefit of the readers.
The subject of different types of smoking in third world countries including India have not been addressed. For example, there is hardly any reference to beedi smoking which is a common form of smoking in several South Asian countries. It is well known that adverse effects of smoking tobacco differ with the type of smoking product and how one tends to smoke.
Overall, it is a useful book for students, medical practitioners and others who confront tobacco in one or the other form. This as a valuable publication in the ongoing series “Progress in Respiratory Research”.
