I. The global epidemic.- 1. The growing epidemic.- 2. Studies on tobacco use.- The prevalence of tobacco use.- Mortality and morbidity due to tobacco use.- Tobacco and cancer.- Cardiovascular disease.- 3. Experimental studies on effects of tobacco.- Experimental animals.- Humans.- 4. Passive smoking.- Effects on children and young people.- 5. Tobacco and the environment.- 6. Tobacco addiction.- 7. Women and tobacco.- Prevalence and attitudes.- Health effects.- 8. Youth and tobacco.- Prevalence.- Attitudes.- Health effects.- 9. Tobacco and occupational health.- 10. Tobacco promotion.- 11. Tobacco economics.- 12. World trade and smuggling.- II. Stemming the epidemic.- 13. International and government options.- 14. Tobacco control programmes.- Regional and national.- Local.- Women.- Youth.- 15. Tobacco legislation and regulation.- Regulatory measures.- Smoke-Free areas.- Youth access.- 16. Economic measures to control tobacco use.- Taxation and pricing.- 17. Approaches to cessation.- Pharmacological methods.- Behavioural methods.- Methods for young people.- 18. Health education.- 19. Litigation.- 20. Lobbying, advocacy and use of mass media for tobacco control.- 21. The role of health professionals.- Practising health professionals.- Health-care students.- 22. Religion and tobacco.- 23. Discussants’ remarks.- Closing remarks.- Author index.