Read articles from Global

December 08, 2025 by vsml.co.za

Misleading claims about vaping, like those circulating in South Africa, are addressed by major health bodies. Vaping significantly reduces carcinogens and toxins compared to smoking, debunking myths about risks like Popcorn Lung and oil-containing liquids. Regulated vaping excludes harmful chemicals found in illicit products. Extensive evidence supports vaping as a less harmful alternative to smoking, promoting quitting. The public should be informed with accurate information to make informed decisions, emphasizing harm reduction and controlled youth access.

December 08, 2025 by gfn.tv

YouTube’s new AI enforcement wave looks less like a policy update and more like the World Health Organization’s crusade against nicotine. In this worrying GFN Interview, GrimmGreen shows how safer-nicotine content is now being flagged as “medical misinformation” under rules that echo the WHO’s narrative: nicotine equals harm—no nuance allowed. After sixteen years as one of the most trusted voices helping adult smokers escape combustible tobacco, GrimmGreen is once again fighting to keep his channel alive.

December 08, 2025 by filtermag.org

The World Health Organization (WHO) has shifted towards an ideological stance on tobacco, neglecting science and favoring donor interests at COP11. Despite evidence showing reduced-risk nicotine products are safer, the WHO prioritizes harsher regulation on them over more harmful cigarettes. Delegates resisted these unfounded proposals, criticizing the WHO's bias and cult-like behavior. The WHO's hypocrisy was evident in biased awards and a funding ecosystem influenced by billionaire donors like Michael Bloomberg. In contrast, open dialogue at the "Good COP" conference highlighted the need for transparent, evidence-based public health policies, criticizing the WHO's failure to prioritize harm reduction. The WHO's deviation from its duty poses a threat to global public health.

December 04, 2025 by spotify.com

The text discusses an episode of "Aclaremos las cosas" with Clive Bates on tobacco control policy. The conversation criticizes the WHO Framework Convention for being bureaucratic and anti-industry instead of harm reduction-focused. It highlights issues like Article 5.3, excluding dissenting voices, organized crime impacts of bans, and missed opportunities for harm reduction. The episode calls attention to philanthropic foundation influence on global narratives about nicotine.

December 04, 2025 by clearingtheair.eu

Former WHO Directors Derek Yach and Tikki Pang advocate a radical overhaul of the WHO's tobacco control treaty for harm reduction. They emphasize the need for courage from governments, industry, and civil society to prioritize public health over old beliefs. Highlighting the importance of informing healthcare professionals, they urge scientific societies and journals to support harm reduction strategies. The authors stress the urgency for low-income countries to adopt these measures to prevent long-term health and economic burdens. Contrasting progress in developed and developing nations, they argue for embracing safer alternatives to reduce smoking-related harm. Despite past mistrust of tobacco companies, they call for a pragmatic shift towards harm reduction to save lives.

December 04, 2025 by medicalxpress.com

Research reveals that astrocytes' enzyme, glutamine synthetase, plays a crucial role in nicotine addiction, influencing brain changes and addictive behavior. Led by Prof. Choe, the study found that astrocytes interact with neurons to regulate nicotine-dependent behavior. Nicotine exposure stimulates receptors on astrocytes, triggering a calcium surge and signaling pathways that enhance locomotor sensitization. By blocking specific interactions in rats' brains, researchers dampened locomotor sensitization, underscoring astrocytic signaling's significance in nicotine-induced brain changes. These findings suggest a new avenue for addiction research, emphasizing glia communication and potential therapeutic strategies for smoking cessation.

December 02, 2025 by reason.org

The WHO urges strict regulation and even bans on e-cigarettes and other nicotine alternatives like heated tobacco. Despite successful harm reduction in countries like the UK, the WHO promotes quit helplines and nicotine replacement therapies, which have lower success rates and are inaccessible in low-income areas. The organization's stance goes against evidence that vaping is safer, with countries like the US, UK, and Canada endorsing it. The WHO's strategy risks hindering smokers from switching to safer options, leading to more smoking-related deaths and illnesses. Overlooking the success of harm reduction methods, the WHO's recommendations may perpetuate smoking-related health issues globally.

December 02, 2025 by medicalxpress.com

UBC Okanagan research by Dr. Struik warns of the misleading trendiness of oral nicotine pouches promoted on TikTok, particularly Zyn, as pleasurable lifestyle choices instead of cessation aids. Social media glamorizes these products, increasing appeal among youth despite health risks like oral cancer and heart issues. 250 TikTok videos analyzed show normalization of use, with some videos highlighting multiple pouch use and integration into daily life. This normalization, along with a sense of empowerment and exclusivity, contributes to their popularity among teens. Dr. Struik emphasizes the urgent need for public health efforts to combat the tobacco industry's exploitation of social media in targeting vulnerable youth for nicotine addiction.

December 01, 2025 by clearingtheair.eu

Fruit and mint flavors dominate vape sales post-ban, with fruit leading at 30.4%, followed by fruit/mint at 24.2% and mint at 20.7%. Preferences differ by age, with fruit favored by 18-54-year-olds and mint by those 55 and older. Haypp emphasizes the importance of flavor variety in supporting smokers switching to reduced risk options. The UK sees more adults vaping than smoking for the first time, with vaping identified as a major driver in smoking reduction. Industry calls for clearer communication on vaping's lower risks and warns against misconceptions. The government introduces QR-tag measures to combat illegal vape sales, safeguarding public health.

December 01, 2025 by brownstone.org

Every two years, the 183 Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control meet at the Conference of the Parties (COP), the treaty’s governing body. It is a closed-door diplomatic forum where global tobacco policies, regulations, and political direction are decided. Civil society and journalists are largely excluded, with outsiders allowed only in limited public sessions while real negotiations take place behind closed doors. The meetings are heavily influenced by the FCTC Secretariat and a small group of Bloomberg-funded NGOs whose positions often shape the agenda. This power structure forms the essential context for understanding what happened at COP11.