Nicotine Science and Policy
By Harry Shapiro July 10, 2026
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”.
July 09, 2026 by planetofthevapes.co.uk
5 Point Plan Proposal
International health experts presented a five-point plan for a smoke-free Europe amid concerns about policy reversals on tobacco control. They advocate for prioritizing reducing cigarette smoking, learning from Sweden's harm reduction success, regulating products based on relative risks, enhancing youth protections, and harmonizing a framework supporting harm reduction. The plan aims to prevent setbacks in achieving a tobacco-free generation by focusing on the dangers of combustible cigarettes. Dr. Delon Human emphasizes the need to differentiate nicotine products' risks and highlights the potential harm of ineffective policies. The submission by Smoke Free Sweden urges the European Commission to consider harm reduction in tobacco regulation.
9.90% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 867,000 current smokers in Sweden 11.70% of men are current smokers but only 8.10% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
July 08, 2026 by filtermag.org
“Not a Solo Act”—The Impacts of Smoking Cessation for Loved Ones
Quitting smoking is rarely an individual journey. The benefits extend far beyond the smoker, improving the health, relationships and quality of life of partners, children and loved ones. Smoke-free alternatives can help create healthier homes, more shared time and fewer harms from secondhand smoke. Harm reduction is not just about saving one life — it can improve the wellbeing of entire families.
July 08, 2026 by substack.com
Tobacco Harm Reduction IS Harm Reduction-Part 4
Tobacco harm reduction is harm reduction. The principle is the same: reduce risk, respect autonomy and meet people where they are, rather than demanding abstinence as the only acceptable outcome. For people who smoke, access to lower-risk nicotine products can offer a practical route away from combustible tobacco. Public health should apply harm reduction consistently — including when the substance is nicotine.
June 19, 2026 by substack.com
Tobacco Harm Reduction IS Harm Reduction-Part 3
Tobacco harm reduction is harm reduction. The principle is simple: when people continue to use nico…
June 19, 2026 by substack.com
Tobacco Harm Reduction IS Harm Reduction - Part 2
Harm reduction should not stop at the edge of tobacco policy. If public health accepts safer choice…
June 19, 2026 by substack.com
Tobacco Harm Reduction IS Harm Reduction Part One
Tobacco harm reduction belongs within the wider harm reduction movement. The goal is not to celebra…
July 07, 2026 by planetofthevapes.co.uk
Ignorance Leads To Policy Fails
Poor understanding of nicotine and relative risk leads to poor policy. When decision-makers treat vaping, pouches and cigarettes as if they carry the same harms, regulation can end up discouraging smokers from switching while leaving combustible tobacco protected by default. Public health decisions should be based on evidence, not confusion or moral panic. Ignorance does not reduce harm — it creates policy failure.
19.70% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 16.3 million current smokers in Philippines 35.60% of men are current smokers but only 4.20% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
July 07, 2026 by substack.com
The worst idea in the history of tobacco control
Putting nicotine into a global drug prohibition treaty would be one of the most damaging ideas in tobacco control. It would treat smoke-free alternatives like illicit drugs while leaving the central cause of harm — combustible tobacco — dangerously misunderstood. Dependence matters, but policy must distinguish between addiction and the disease risks caused by smoking. A global nicotine ban would not end demand; it would push safer products underground and protect cigarettes by default.
13.70% of the adult population are daily smokers. There are approximately 0 daily smokers in Palau 22.00% of men are daily smokers but only 5.30% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
Blogs
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”.
Harry’s Blog 131: Hidden harms
New publications from K•A•C discuss the challenge of smoking in treatment services caring for those who are HIV positive or coping with drug problems.
Smoking rates among those who are HIV positive and those who use drugs (as well as those with mental health problems where there may well be overlap) are anything from two to four times higher than the general adult smoking rates of most developed countries. One study of those receiving opiate substitute treatment recorded a smoking prevalence rate of 85%. Why should this be?
Harry’s blog 130: Follow the science not the money
For the sake of public health, end virtue signalling about THR funding
I arrived into the world of tobacco harm reduction (THR) from drugs and HIV harm reduction in 2015. I was invited into KAC by two valued colleagues from my previous world who were perfectly up front (and have never hidden the fact) that the funding for the organisation came from the Foundation for a Smoke Free World which in turn was funded by Philip Morris International. And the reason that they were prepared to use this money to further the cause of THR was that no other prospective funders for a harm reduction project were interested. Nobody back in the day was excited by the fact that if you could separate nicotine use from combustion the relative risk was massively reduced and the potential health gains enormous.