Cigarettes may kill 1 billion people around the globe this century unless drastic reductions in smoking occur, the World Health Organization declared Thursday. Already, one-tenth of the planet's adult deaths - 5 million per year, and growing rapidly - arise from tobacco, WHO says.

Although nicotine addiction is declining in America and Europe, it is soaring in poorer nations where Big Tobacco sees promising new markets. Killing millions of people doesn't seem to disturb U.S. tobacco executives as they promote sales in less-educated, less-sophisticated lands. It's as if they were drug pushers, with little concern for their customers.

The WHO announcement, called a "Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic," sums up:

"Tobacco is the single most preventable cause of death in the world today. This year, tobacco will kill more than 5 million people - more than tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria combined. By 2030, the death toll will exceed 8 million a year. Unless urgent action is taken, tobacco could kill 1 billion people during this century."

The international health agency said it's ironic that governments legalize such a deadly product - one that "kills up to half of those who use it as intended."

"Much of tobacco's damage to health does not become evident until years or even decades after the onset of use," the report continued. "So, while tobacco use is rising globally, the epidemic of tobacco-related disease and death has just begun." It estimates that cigarettes killed 100 million people around the planet in the 20th century, and an upsurge of suffering lies ahead.

Aided by $125 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the foundation of New York City's Republican mayor, WHO is launching a worldwide crusade with six goals: (1) monitor tobacco use in every nation, (2) ban indoor smoking to protect people from secondhand fumes, (3) issue public warnings about death and sickness dangers, (4) offer inducements to help smokers quit, (5) ban cigarette ads and promotions, and (6) raise taxes to make cigarettes so expensive that young people may avoid becoming addicted.

Although Big Tobacco lavishes money freely upon politicians, we hope that West Virginia's leaders, and this state's delegation in Congress, support the new effort to reduce the dismal toll from nicotine addiction.

Although nicotine addiction is declining in America and Europe, it is soaring in poorer nations where Big Tobacco sees promising new markets. Killing millions of people doesn't seem to disturb U.S. tobacco executives as they promote sales in less-educated, less-sophisticated lands. It's as if they were drug pushers, with little concern for their customers.

The WHO announcement, called a "Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic," sums up:

"Tobacco is the single most preventable cause of death in the world today. This year, tobacco will kill more than 5 million people - more than tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria combined. By 2030, the death toll will exceed 8 million a year. Unless urgent action is taken, tobacco could kill 1 billion people during this century."

The international health agency said it's ironic that governments legalize such a deadly product - one that "kills up to half of those who use it as intended."

"Much of tobacco's damage to health does not become evident until years or even decades after the onset of use," the report continued. "So, while tobacco use is rising globally, the epidemic of tobacco-related disease and death has just begun." It estimates that cigarettes killed 100 million people around the planet in the 20th century, and an upsurge of suffering lies ahead.

Aided by $125 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the foundation of New York City's Republican mayor, WHO is launching a worldwide crusade with six goals: (1) monitor tobacco use in every nation, (2) ban indoor smoking to protect people from secondhand fumes, (3) issue public warnings about death and sickness dangers, (4) offer inducements to help smokers quit, (5) ban cigarette ads and promotions, and (6) raise taxes to make cigarettes so expensive that young people may avoid becoming addicted.

Although Big Tobacco lavishes money freely upon politicians, we hope that West Virginia's leaders, and this state's delegation in Congress, support the new effort to reduce the dismal toll from nicotine addiction.