Doha:The Gulf Health Council has initiated the "Today Before Tomorrow" campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of nontraditional tobacco and nicotine products. This campaign will run from October 4 through October 31, 2026.
According to Qatar News Agency, the campaign aims to empower young people in GCC nations to reject these products by understanding their risks, managing peer pressure, and adopting healthy behaviors. The slogan emphasizes making a healthy choice today to prevent experimentation from becoming a difficult-to-quit habit. "Today" symbolizes awareness, choice, and control, while "tomorrow" signifies justification, delay, and potential risks. It urges youth to renounce or quit tobacco and nicotine before adverse health, psychological, or social effects arise.
The initiative primarily targets individuals aged 15-24, with parents, youth-focused content creators, schools, and health organizations as secondary audiences. It addresses the influence of peer pressure and the digital environment, equipping young people with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate these challenges confidently.
The campaign highlights the risks associated with vapes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco products, countering the misconception that smoke-free or tobacco-leaf-free products are safe. It explains that nicotine is highly addictive and can impact brain functions related to attention, learning, and impulse control.
Moreover, the campaign tackles the belief that nicotine alleviates stress, clarifying that any temporary relief may be due to withdrawal symptom alleviation, which can perpetuate dependence. It encourages practical coping strategies such as engaging in physical activity, calm breathing, pursuing hobbies, and seeking support.
To enhance decision-making and peer-pressure resistance, the campaign advises young people to pause before responding, refuse confidently, suggest alternatives, and exit pressuring situations. It also promotes media literacy, aiding participants in identifying reliable health information and recognizing marketing strategies that make these products appealing.
The initiative coincides with tobacco-related deaths exceeding 7 million annually and tobacco use among approximately 37 million children aged 13-15, as reported by the World Health Organization in 2024. E-cigarette use is linked to a threefold increase in the likelihood of subsequent conventional cigarette smoking among youth. A 2024 study in five Gulf countries revealed that over half of adolescents attempting to buy cigarettes were not refused, highlighting the need for early prevention.
Additionally, the campaign offers a two-track interactive behavioral assessment. One track focuses on evaluating young people's knowledge and attitudes, while the other assesses specialists' and parents' ability to communicate and address these risks. Participants receive tailored recommendations to promote healthier behaviors.
The campaign includes educational and motivational materials, a main video, and short clips illustrating everyday scenarios. It emphasizes the role of community environments and preventive policies, such as smoke-free public places and tobacco taxes, in supporting healthy choices.
Through this effort, the Gulf Health Council stresses the importance of understanding youth needs, empowering informed decision-making, and providing a supportive environment to transform health knowledge into sustainable practices, improving both youth health and the quality of life across Gulf society.