Nicotine Science and Policy
By Harry Shapiro Aug. 13, 2026
Harry's blog 134: Filtering out lies and misinformation
The only major global journal focused on harm reduction has gone bust. Since 2017, Filter has advocated through journalism for rational and compassionate approaches to drug use, drug policy and human rights, while also standing out for its coverage of tobacco harm reduction. Its closure is a significant loss - particularly at a time when well-funded opponents of tobacco harm reduction continue to thrive.
September 25, 2026 by wsj.com
U.S. Regulators Plan Major Move to Speed Authorizations of Vapes, Tobacco Pouches
A faster FDA pathway for vapes and nicotine pouches would matter most for the legal market. Years of slow authorisations have left adult smokers with limited approved options while illicit and unapproved products fill the gap. Speed should not mean weak standards; it should mean timely, evidence-based decisions that distinguish responsible smoke-free products from those that fail basic tests. Harm reduction needs regulation that can move quickly enough to keep safer alternatives inside accountable channels.
14.10% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 39.8 million current smokers in United States 17.10% of men are current smokers but only 11.10% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
September 25, 2026 by substack.com
The People Missing From Australia’s Tobacco-Control Victory
Australia’s nicotine debate often talks about systems, markets and enforcement, but the people most affected can disappear from view. Smokers who cannot quit, vapers pushed into prescription workarounds, and consumers navigating illicit supply are not footnotes to policy — they are the evidence of how policy works in practice. A strategy that ignores them may look tidy from above while failing on the ground. Public health should count lived experience as part of the evidence, not as an inconvenience to the model.
11.00% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 2.4 million current smokers in Australia 12.90% of men are current smokers but only 9.30% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
September 25, 2026 by westernstandard.news
Alberta minister says Ottawa's nicotine pouch regulations abandon rural communities
Rural communities experience nicotine policy differently. A rule that looks manageable in urban centres can become a serious access barrier where pharmacies, services and cessation support are limited. Ottawa’s pouch regulations raise that equity question: are lower-risk options being placed out of reach for the people who may have the fewest alternatives? Harm reduction should not depend on postcode, political visibility or proximity to the right kind of retailer.
10.60% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 3.5 million current smokers in Canada 13.10% of men are current smokers but only 8.10% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
September 25, 2026 by planetofthevapes.co.uk
Reducing Danger to Pets
Pet safety brings the vaping debate down to everyday responsibility. E-liquids, nicotine pouches and devices need to be stored properly, kept away from animals and treated as products that require care in the home. That message is far more useful than panic: risk can be reduced through clear guidance, safer handling and responsible use. Harm reduction should include honest information about protecting everyone in the environment, including pets.
11.80% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 6.7 million current smokers in United Kingdom 13.60% of men are current smokers but only 10.10% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
September 24, 2026 by substack.com
Teen Vaping Is Falling in Pennsylvania...so why does the state still say it is skyrocketing
Pennsylvania’s teen vaping trend tells a less dramatic story than many policy campaigns suggest. Youth use is falling, yet the political response often remains locked in crisis mode, with restrictions aimed at a problem that may already be moving in the right direction. That matters because outdated alarm can distort priorities and spill over onto adults who smoke. Prevention should follow the data, not preserve a panic after the trend has changed.
14.10% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 39.8 million current smokers in United States 17.10% of men are current smokers but only 11.10% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
- Page 1 of 46
Blogs
Harry's blog 134: Filtering out lies and misinformation
The only major global journal focused on harm reduction has gone bust. Since 2017, Filter has advocated through journalism for rational and compassionate approaches to drug use, drug policy and human rights, while also standing out for its coverage of tobacco harm reduction. Its closure is a significant loss - particularly at a time when well-funded opponents of tobacco harm reduction continue to thrive.
Harry’s blog 133: Silence is consent
Two tobacco control consultations that demand your attention
I’m sure there are many of you like me who are deeply cynical about public consultations. They often feel like political tick box exercises allowing the issuing authority from local councils to international organisations to say they have ‘consulted with the people’, when in truth they knew exactly what they were going to do from the get-go.
Harry’s Blog 132: “Zyn! Went The Strings Of My Heart” (with apologies to Judy Garland)
FDA approval of 20 nicotine pouch products is another step forward for tobacco harm reduction
The FDA in the U.S. has granted marketing authorisation for Zyn nicotine pouch products (five variations on mint plus five other flavours in two different strengths).
In its letter to PMI (who own Zyn manufacturers Swedish Match), the FDA wrote:
Based on our review of your MRTPAs [Modified Risk Tobacco Applications] we determined that the proposed modified risk tobacco products, …as actually used by consumers would significantly reduce harm and the risk of tobacco-related disease to individual tobacco users and benefit the health of the population as a whole, taking into account both users of tobacco products and persons who do not currently use tobacco products. Therefore, we authorize marketing of the tobacco products as modified risk tobacco products with the following modified risk information – “Using ZYN instead of cigarettes puts you at a lower risk of mouth cancer, heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, emphysema and chronic bronchitis”.