Tobacco Free Future

Dr Paul Kavanagh, Public Health Medicine and Chair of the RCPI Clinical Advisory Group on Smoking and E-Cigaretes

Over 100 people die every week from smoking in Ireland with more than 1,000 hospital admissions caused by tobacco-related illness.

Dr Paul Kavanagh, a member of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine and Chair of the Clinical Advisory Group on Smoking and E-Cigarettes at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, highlights the urgent need for renewed national action.

Dr Diarmuid O'Shea, Geriatrician and General Physician

Smoking accelerates the progression of disease, reduces resilience, increases disability, and reduces quality of life. These impacts are not confined to older age; they are the cumulative result of smoking beginning early in life.

While it is never too late to stop smoking, Dr O'Shea says that it is far better not to have started in the first place. That is why protecting children and young people must be central to our national response. No young person should ever become part of the next generation of smokers.

Dr Anne Marie Sweeney, Consultant Respiratory Physician

Dr Sweeney sees patients every day whose quality of life has been so diminished by smoking that they are unable to function independently and are regularly admitted to hospital. Yet, even then, they struggle to quit this addictive drug. 

Prof Paul Donnellan, Consultant Medical Oncologist

Seven million people die every year from cigarette smoking worldwide.

Prof Paul Donnellan, Consultant Medical Oncologist, shares his frontline experience of the devastating human cost of tobacco. From hospital wards to outpatient clinics, smoking-related illness is a daily reality. The scale of global deaths is comparable to a catastrophic loss of life each year yet it remains entirely preventable.

Prof Donnellan calls for renewed commitment to a Tobacco Free Future to end this ongoing public health crisis.

Dr Eibhlín Healy, Specialist Registrar Obstetrics

Dr Eibhlín Healy, Specialist Registrar Obstetrics, explains how smoking during pregnancy can restrict fetal growth, cause chronic placental damage and increase the risk of stillbirth.

Many pregnant people want to stop smoking. They need stronger, more accessible support to do so. It’s time to invest in maternity prevention and commit to a Tobacco Free Generation.

Assoc. Prof. Breda Cushen, Consultant Respiratory Physician

Assoc. Prof. Breda Cushen, Consultant Respiratory Physician, shares her frontline experience treating patients living with severe smoking-related lung disease.

She highlights the significant number of hospitalisations in Ireland due to COPD and the devastating impact smoking has on patients’ independence and quality of life.

Professor Des Cox, Consultant in Paediatric Respiratory Medicine

Prof Cox sees children in his respiratory clinic with recurrent chest infections, asthma and other lung problems who are exposed to passive smoking from their parents.  And those children are more likely to become smokers themselves. 

He says need to take steps today to ensure smoking-related harm ends with this generation. He is calling for actions towards a Tobacco Free Generation on behalf of the children of Ireland. 

Dr Sujil Jacob, Occupational Health Physician

Smoking causes illness and disabilities that can stop people from working long before they are ready to retire. Smoking significantly increases workplace risk and makes recovery more difficult.  Dr Jacob is calling for action to make tobacco products less accessible and less appealing.