France Launches “Become an Ex-Smoker” Campaign Amidst Regional Disparities in Smoking-Related Mortality

From February 16 to March 15, 2026, Public Health France and the Ministry of Health will launch the “Become an Ex-smoker” campaign, aimed at supporting the over half of daily smokers in France who express a desire to quit. Réunion Island, an overseas department of France, faces approaching metropolitan levels of smoking-related mortality, highlighting regional inequalities in public health.

Regional Disparities in Smoking-Related Mortality

Smoking-related mortality rates vary significantly across France. Regions like Hauts-de-France, Grand Est, and Corsica exhibit mortality rates 40% higher than those in Île-de-France, the least affected region. Overseas territories also display contrasting trends, with Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Guyana reporting lower rates, while Réunion Island is experiencing a rise in mortality rates approaching those seen in metropolitan France.

Campaign Details: “Become an Ex-Smoker”

The “Become an Ex-smoker” campaign emphasizes the availability of the Tabac info service, a free resource accessible 365 days a year. Smokers seeking to quit can access personalized support from tobacco specialists through the helpline 39 89, as well as daily support via a mobile application and the tabac-info-service.fr website.

Public Health France’s Perspective

Dr. Caroline Semaille, Director General of Public Health France, underscores the importance of a multi-faceted approach to reducing the impact of smoking. “Acting on social determinants, improving access to support tools and promoting environments favorable to health are essential levers for sustainably reducing the impact of smoking,” she stated.

Growing Desire to Quit

According to the France 2024 Public Health Barometer, 55% of daily smokers in France are motivated to quit smoking, indicating a significant opportunity for intervention and support through initiatives like the “Become an Ex-smoker” campaign.