Professor Will Discuss International Tobacco-use Study Feb. 18
For release: Feb. 14, 2003
For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey

Dr. Kenneth Ward of the University of Memphis Center for Community Health (CCH) will discuss the Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies at the Fogarty International Center meeting Feb. 18. in New Orleans.

Ward and colleagues at The U of M are working with Virginia Commonwealth University and Aleppo School of Medicine in Syria to establish a center for the study, treatment and prevention of tobacco use in Syria and other Eastern Mediterranean countries. The Center will serve as a resource for tobacco-control efforts, including epidemiological study, clinical research, and development of culturally sensitive prevention and cessation programs.

Ward and The U of M's CCH received a $1.7 million grant from the Fogarty Center in September, part of a $20.5 million National Institutes of Health initiative to combat the growth of tobacco-caused illness and death in the developing world.
Half of men in the Eastern Mediterranean smoke cigarettes, about double the percentage in the U.S., said Ward.

Waterpipe smoking is increasing rapidly among both men and women in the region. While the common belief is that waterpipe smoking is less harmful than cigarette smoking, there is little data on its health and addictive effects. "There hasn't been much study done in that area, but all available evidence suggests that waterpipe smoking, like cigarettes, has many bad health effects," Ward said.

In addition, there is little help available to those who want to quit smoking. "Unfortunately, developing countries like Syria don't have many resources to do this work, which is why this NIH initiative was launched," said Ward.

The Center will survey behaviors and attitudes of smokers, determine levels of nicotine dependence, identify withdrawal symptoms, and assess the physiological, behavioral and subjective effects of smoking and abstinence. "We hope this will lead to lasting change," Ward said.

According to the World Health Organization, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disability in adults worldwide. More than one billion people - about a third of the world's adult population - smoke, making tobacco use one of the greatest global health threats.

Working with Ward will be Dr. Tom Eissenberg of Virginia Commonwealth and Dr. Wasim Maziak, a Syrian physician and epidemiologist.

More information about the Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies is available at http://scts-sy.org.

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