Tobacco smoking in the Caribbean. The role of dental professionals in smoking cessation programmes.

Cigarette smoking constitutes the most common form of tobacco use in the western world. Although the prevalence in the Caribbean is lower compared with Latin American and North American countries, cigarette smoking is gaining popularity with adolescents in the Caribbean. Tobacco smoking is injurious to general and oral health and is responsible for at least ten per cent of all deaths in the English-speaking Caribbean countries. These observations imply an urgent need to implement anti-smoking programmes in this region. Such programmes should focus on prevention of the acquisition of tobacco smoking habits, implementing smoking cessation programmes and providing support for those who have quit smoking. A variety of approaches involving health professionals, government and non-governmental agencies, media and other interest groups is required to address this issue. This paper proposes a strategy for a smoking cessation programme in the Caribbean that should be incorporated in day-to-day general dental practice.