In low and middle income countries, tobacco smoking is linked with
poverty and poor education (283). At the individual and household level, a
lot of money is spent on tobacco. For poor people, money spent on tobacco
is money not spent on basic necessities, such as food, shelter, education
and health care. Tobacco users are at much higher risk of falling ill and
dying prematurely of tobacco-related diseases, thus depriving families of
much-needed income and imposing additional health-care costs. Those
who grow tobacco suffer as well. Many tobacco farmers, rather than
becoming rich from their crop, often fi nd themselves in debt to tobacco
companies (283).