For those of you that know me, this is no joke. I really am trying to give up smoking. No need to explain why I guess, and not least since apart from Princess Margaret, there are few who smoked as much as I do. Basically, when even Armenians tell you that you smoke too much it really is time to stop. Of course, I’ve tried a few times before and failed, but this time I’m taking something to help me — Tabex.

Tabex is an original Bulgarian preparation of plant origin, intended for the treatment of tobacco smoking. The preparation is developed on the basis of the alkaloid Cytisine, contained in the plant Cytisus laborinum L. (Golden Rain acacia).

In the human body, Cytisine plays the role of nicotine substitution substance, and reduces the period of interaction of the received nicotine with relevant nicotine receptors, i.e. the specific substance cytisine “substitutes” nicotine, acting on the same receptors, thus preventing the appearance of abstinence syndrome. This results in a gradual reduction and suspension of the psychic and physical dependency to nicotine in smokers.

The broad clinical studies carried out, show that the therapy with the preparation Tabex results in giving up smoking in more than 57% of the patients.

Hmmm, it all sounds great so far, although I’m not so happy that according to the Tabex web site the tablets shouldn’t be obtainable over the counter without a doctor’s prescription. Of course, in Armenia you can pick up almost anything in any chemist or drugstore, including antibiotics, so no wonder there’s so many problems with people incorrectly treating themselves at home or overdosing on drugs that should really be carefully administered with appropiate professional medical guidance.

Still, I did my research and even though the Tabex package insert is in Russian, I did at least find the directions online in English. As I also don’t trust the type of drugs being imported into Armenia given the lack of appropiate safeguards and monitoring, I also checked up on any possible adverse side-effects or scare stories associated with Tabex. Thankfully — touch wood — I found none, and so far, the treatment seems to be working.

As I’m still allowed to smoke if I really can’t resist the idea of filling my lungs with toxic plumes of carbon monoxide for the first five days of the treatment, I’ve had about 9 so far today. Still might sound a lot to some of you, but as I was on a 50-60 cigarette a day habit, I think it’s encouraging. Sure, this isn’t so much of a deal in Armenia, as it’s customary to smoke and there are few places where you can’t. Yes, there are now some non-smoking areas in a few restaurants, but it’s not America.

Indeed, it’s still harder to be a non-smoker in Armenia than a smoker, I think, and it’s probably no surprise why. Even forgetting the culture of the country and the lack of health education, when you have cigarette manufacturers and importers sitting in Parliament, they’re hardly likely to be too concerned about smoking-related deaths or illnesses in Armenia. Via Armeniapedia, ANN-Groong and Arka had something on this earlier on in the year.

A new law on restricting the sale, consumption and use of tobacco products in the Republic of Armenia (RA) was in force on March 2, 2005. It prohibits smoking in any public transport system, and in all cultural, educational and health institutions. The National Assembly of RA passed the law after it was twice rejected by the lawmakers, some of whom are the biggest cigarette producers and importers in RA. The same parliament also ratified the European Union’s Framework Convention on Tobacco control (FCTC). One of the requirements of FCTC is to implement the rule of the World Health Organization that requires warning labels on cigarette packs. The latter part of the law will become mandatory in 2008 and cigarette advertising will be outlawed by 2010.

According to recent statistics more than 70 percent of men in RA are smokers, a higher percentage than any country in Europe. The number of women and especially teenage smokers has registered an increase in recent years, as has the production and import of cigarettes in RA. According to official figures, around 1.7 billion cigarettes were imported into RA in 2004.

[…]

YEREVAN, August 9 /ARKA/. Armenia ranks sixth for the number of smokers in the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports on the basis of the information for 2002-2006. According to the report, about 64% of the adult Armenian population smokes. The WHO reports that Mongolia ranks first in this list, where 67.8% of the adult population smokes. China is among the five heaviest countries smokers (66.9%), Kenya (66.8%), Cambodia (66%) and Namibia (65%). Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan rank 13th and 14th (60%), Belarus – 23rd (54.9%), Ukraine and Lithuania – 30th and 31st (51.1%), Latvia and Uzbekistan – 35th and 36th (49%). Estonia ranks 47th (44%), Azerbaijan – 85th (32%), and Turkmenistan – 95th (27%).

It’s times like this that you realize why cigarettes are so cheap in Armenia. Actually, I remember some people joking that in order to keep the population under control and less likely to take to the streets at times of unrest and political instability, the cost of cigarettes and vodka is kept to a minimum. And it’s true, the most common type of cigarettes smoked here cost 300 drams — about 70 cents.

Compare that to England where cigarettes cost around a fiver — just under $10 as of writing — for a pack of 20. Not only that, as of 1 July 2007, it will be illegal to smoke in enclosed public places in the U.K. Unlike Armenia where the law seldom functions, I’m sure the restrictions will be strictly enforced. The BBC has more.

The ban covers virtually all enclosed public places including offices, factories, pubs and bars, but not outdoors or in private homes.

It follows similar bans in the Irish Republic and Scotland - a ban in Wales starts on 2 April.

[…]

From 1 July pubs and restaurants will have to display prominent “no smoking” signs around their premises.

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said the ban was a “huge step forward” which would save thousands of people’s lives.

[…]

The Cabinet originally proposed prohibiting smoking only in pubs serving food, in line with Labour’s election manifesto - but MPs eventually backed a total ban in enclosed public spaces in a free vote.

[…]

The health secretary is also launching a Smokefree England campaign, to advise England’s 3.7m businesses to prepare for the ban.

Even a recent survey showed another problem with efforts to educate the public of the dangers of smoking. Unlike my own experience in the U.K. where almost every doctor I know doesn’t smoke, in Armenia the situation is quite the opposite. Indeed, when those charged with the task of safeguarding the health of the nation carry on as if there’s no problem, is it any wonder that their patients don’t bother?

A high prevalence of smoking was identified among physicians in Yerevan, Armenia. Female healthcare workers have a much higher smoking prevalence than in the overall female population. A high percentage of smokers have smoked in the presence of their patients. Level of perceived preparedness for assisting patients to quit smoking was positively associated with knowledge about known health risks associated with smoking. Only 35% felt well prepared to assist patients to quit smoking. Physicians who smoke are less likely to ask their patients about their smoking behavior or believe their example is likely to influence their patients. These results indicate a need to educate physicians in Armenia of their potential for influencing patients to not start or quit smoking.

Well, it remains to be seen whether I’ll kick the habit or not. Let’s hope so, but I also hope that I won’t turn into one of those annoying former nicotine addicts who become extremist anti-smokers once they do quit. Of course, even as a smoker I realize how dumb smoking is, but although I’m not using this as an excuse, by some accounts nicotine is more addictive than heroin.

Wish me luck, and not least for when I next return to what sounds like a smoke-free England.