Today is International Day Without Tobacco, and in Costa Rica the focus is on preventing parents from smoking around their children.

The Institute on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (IAFA) is seizing the occasion to call attention to statistics such as 7% of women in Costa Rica smoking during pregnancy and 60,830 children suffering the consequences such as low birth weight, susceptibility to infections, greater risk of dying within the first few weeks of birth and a greater likelihood of developing respiratory infections, such as asthma.

Additionally, children who grow up with at least one smoker in their homes could have a lower intellectual level, hyperactivity and an attention deficit. Children are also 50% more likely to become smokers when at least one of their parents smokes.

IAFA's focus today is on creating 100% smoke-free environments to prevent harm to children, the statement said.