Ariyah DeSouza, Associate Recruitment Marketing Manager:

The World Health Organization (WHO) began recognizing May 31 as World No Tobacco Day in 1987. The toll taken by tobacco-related death and disease signifies we’re still in the midst of a global epidemic of tobacco use. According to WHO:

• 2011 5 million people will die from a tobacco-related heart attack, stroke, cancer, lung ailment or other disease
• 2011 Another 600,000– more than a quarter of them children – will die from exposure to secondhand smoke
• 2030 Annual death toll from tobacco use could rise to 8 million
• 2100 Having killed 100 million people during the 20th century, tobacco use could kill 1 billion during the 21st century

Alere Wellbeing is supporting tobacco cessation especially on this day of recognition with a campaign calling smokers and smokeless tobacco users to join the tobacco-free movement.

Connect with us on Facebook through the Quit For Life fan page, where you’ll find Facebook badges in English and Spanish celebrating World No Tobacco Day. Maybe today is your smoke-free anniversary or your quit date. Or you want to voice support of those quitting tobacco for good. You’re always welcome to engage with our online community, just one part of the global movement.