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Objectives. To review the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention onTobacco Control in theAmericas, describe two national case studies and analyze the evidence on electronic cigarettes from a public health perspective. Materials and methods. Revision of the tobacco control legislation and the scientific evidence regarding electronic cigarettes. Results. Implementation of tobacco control policies is not homogeneous, with important advances in smoke-free environments, pictorial health warnings, and epidemiological surveillance, but challenges that remain for the implementation of a total ban of tobacco advertising, increases in tobacco taxes, and tobacco cessation programs. Tobacco industry interference is one of the main obstacles for advancing and novel products create uncertainty about their regulation. Conclusion. There is a need for political will for a comprehensive implementation of the Convention, with evidence-based decisions to confront challenges and to defend the achievements from tobacco industry interference.

Objective. To characterize the desire for cessation and willingness to pay for abandonment therapy. Materials and methods. The data source is the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS). Cessation and willingness to pay were characterized by sociodemographic (SD) and socioeconomic (SE) variables. Logistic regressions were performed to estimate associations. Results. A greater desire for cessation was observed in variables: women, education, non-governmental and inactive employees, rural areas, occasional smokers and middle income, and greater willingness to pay, in: education, over 60 years old, non-governmental, self-employed, urban area, occasional smokers and low median income. Con- clusions. There is a high relation between the desire for abandonment, and willingness to pay with SD and SE variables. Cessation therapies can be applied in work centers, and require a change of focus in the intervention.

Objective. To characterize the illegal purchase of to- bacco products in Panama and the assocation with sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables. Materials and methods. Study population derived from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) conducted in 2013. The association of sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables with illegal purchase of tobacco products was estimated by means of logistic regression models. Results. Men, age group 15 to 39, no formal education, non-governmental, inactive employees, current smoking, lowest quintile of income and living in rural areas were factors associated with the illegal purchase of tobacco products. Conclusions. Sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors play an important role in the illegal purchase of tobacco products. These results suggest the im- portance of surveillance over illicit trade and of the effective implementation of the current laws.