Issues Jamaica
Tobacco harms the health, the treasury, and the spirit of Jamaica. Every year, more than 2000 of its people are killed bytobacco-caused disease. Still, more than 2000 children (10-14 years old) and 275000 adults (15+ years old) continue to usetobacco each day. Complacency in the face of the tobacco epidemic insulates the tobacco industry in Jamaica and ensures thattobacco's death toll will grow every year. Tobacco control advocates must reach out to other communities and resources tostrengthen their efforts and create change.
Adult Smoking (15+ Y.O.)
% using tobacco daily: 2015
Male
21.6%Even though fewer men smoke onaverage in Jamaica than on average inhigh-HDI countries, there are still morethan 227700 men who smoke cigaretteseach day, making it an ongoing and direpublic health threat.
Female
4.4%More women smoke in Jamaica than onaverage in high-HDI countries.
Children Smoking (10-14 Y.O.)
% using tobacco daily: 2015
Boys
0.9%Even though fewer boys smoke in Jamaicathan on average in high-HDI countries, thereare still more than 1000 boys who smokecigarettes each day, making it an ongoingand dire public health threat.
Girls
0.81%More girls smoke in Jamaica than on averagein high-HDI countries.
Deaths% caused by tobacco: 2016
Male
13.11%Even though fewer men die from tobaccoin Jamaica than on average in high-HDIcountries, tobacco still kills 29 men everyweek, necessitating action frompolicymakers.
Female
5.48%Even though fewer women die fromtobacco in Jamaica than on average inhigh-HDI countries, tobacco still kills 11women every week, necessitating actionfrom policymakers.
Societal Harms
The economic cost of smoking in Jamaica amounts to 15481million dollar. This includes direct costs related to healthcareexpenditures and indirect costs related to lost productivitydue to early mortality and morbidity.
Smokeless Tobacco% using tobacco daily: 2013
n/a n/a
Industry
The combined revenues of the world's 6 largest tobaccocompanies in 2016 was more than USD 346 Billion, 2470%larger than the Gross National Income of Jamaica. Theindustry is a powerful force that does not fear the actions ofnation-states because of their extensive resources and globalmarket power.
Growing
There were 1605 metric tons oftobacco produced in Jamaica in2014. However, tobacco growing isonly a small fraction of agriculture inJamaica, with only 0.17% ofagricultural land devoted to tobaccocultivation.
Production
n/a
ta6.org/country/jamaica
Solutions Jamaica
Current Policy in JamaicaProtect from Smoke
All public places completely smoke-free isthe best practice
Smokefree
HealthCare Facilities Educational Facilities
Universities Government Facilities
Indoor Offices Restaurants
Pubs and Bars Public Transport
All Other Indoor PublicPlaces
Funds for SmokefreeEnforcement
Raise Taxes
WHO BenchmarkMinimum
70%of Retail Priceis Excise Tax
Jamaica
27.8%of Retail Priceis Excise Tax
Offer HelpNational quit line and both NRT and cessation-services cost-covered is the bestpractice
Quitting Resources National quit line, and both NRT and some cessation services cost-covered
National Quitline Yes
Warn About the Dangers to Tobacco Users on Product PackagingA plain, standardized pack with a large health warning is the best practice
Type of Warning Label Graphic
Percent of Pack Covered 60%
Plain Packaging No
Warn About the Dangers to the Whole Population in a Media Campaign
Ran a National Anti-Tobacco Campaign in 2014 or 2016 n/a
Appropriate Characteristics
Part Of A Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program n/a
Pre-Tested With The Target Audience n/a
Target Audience Research Was Conducted n/a
Aired On Television And/Or Radio n/a
Utilized Media Planning n/a
Earned Media/Public Relations Were Used To Promote The Campaign n/a
Process Evaluation Was Used To Assess Implementation n/a
Outcome Evaluation Was Used To Assess Effectiveness n/a
Enforce Bans on AdvertisingBan on all forms of direct and indirect advertising is the best practice
Number of DirectAd Bans
1/7possible bans
Number ofIndirect Ad Bans
0/10possible bans
Ad Ban CompliancePercent
High
Direct bans
• National TV and radio
Indirect bans
ta6.org/country/jamaica
