TIH tabacalera - Smoking in presently one of the most important public health problems worldwide. Even though smoking is a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality, it still contributes importantly to the burden of disease. In Mexico, contrary to what is happening in other parts of the world, the smoking epidemic is in an early phase, as evidenced by the low number of lung cancer cases or deaths, and by the minimal public health efforts to control tobacco consumption.