Stories

Research by Dr. Robin Quigg from the University of Otago highlights how the discreet design of vaping devices allows young Māori to vape in prohibited areas, leading to normalization of vaping and nicotine addiction. The study emphasizes the urgent need for tighter regulations on vape device design, advocating for larger sizes, therapeutic designs, and less appealing odors. Despite many marae offering designated vaping areas, some sacred places like marae and wharenui are being disrespected. Quigg stresses the importance of implementing stricter regulations to curb the allure of vaping among young people in New Zealand.

The University of Missouri researcher received over $3 million from NIH to develop treatments for substance use disorders, focusing on helping people quit smoking. Brett Froeliger, PhD, aims to disrupt habitual nicotine use through brain stimulation. His research investigates TBS's effects on brain areas involved in addiction and aims to identify optimal stimulation targets for therapy. Nearly 50 million US adults used tobacco in 2022, underlining the need for effective cessation programs. Froeliger's grant supports a 5-year study exploring how brain stimulation can treat addiction beyond nicotine.

Philip Morris South Africa urged Parliament’s health committee to apply a harm reduction strategy to smoking, similar to the approach that helped combat HIV/AIDS in the country. The company argued that the current Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill does not differentiate between traditional combustible cigarettes and what it claims are less harmful alternatives, such as heated tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and oral nicotine products.

Australia's TGA approved Nicorette QuickMist as the first treatment for nicotine vaping addiction. About 1.7 million Australians vape, but many plan to quit. The product reduces withdrawal symptoms by delivering small nicotine doses. Clinical trials showed positive results, prompting TGA approval. Kenvue's Nadine Saraceno welcomed the decision and believes it will help many overcome their addiction.

Minister Carroll MacNeill supports banning nicotine pouches for under-18s due to concerns over their appeal to teenagers. Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power criticizes the marketing of these pouches to youth, emphasizing their attractive packaging and discreet use. Power warns of a potential epidemic similar to vaping and criticizes the slow government response to regulating nicotine products. She calls for broader legislation covering not only e-cigarettes but also emerging products like pouches. Power also condemns music festivals sponsored by nicotine brands as unethical, urging organizers to reconsider such partnerships. Regulatory action is urged to prevent underage nicotine use.

Arielle Selya, a former academic turned consultant, initially aimed to prove the "gateway hypothesis" linking vaping to smoking in youth but ended up disproving it. Facing reluctance from peers, she transitioned to the private sector, critical of academic politics. Selya utilized longitudinal studies and population trends to challenge the hypothesis, noting declines in overall tobacco use despite the rise of vaping. She highlights academic groupthink and institutional funding pressures shaping the anti-vaping narrative. Moving to the industry for research freedom, Selya remains focused on unbiased analysis. She suggests funding dynamics influence research outcomes and advocates for diverse funding sources to shape scientific narratives independently.

As debates on tobacco harm reduction (THR) intensify, smokers seeking safer alternatives face strict regulations that limit access and drive black markets. THR products—such as vapes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco—are less harmful than cigarettes, which cause over 480,000 deaths annually in the U.S., or about one in six deaths.

A new study published in Health Expectations is providing important insight into smoking cessation among people diagnosed with mental illness. The researchers set out to explore how individuals with mental health conditions experience tobacco use and quitting, why they smoke, what motivates them to stop, and what forms of support they find helpful or lacking. Using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 17 adults in Queensland – all of whom had a mental health diagnosis and at least one quit attempt in the past five years – the study highlights the complex interplay between tobacco use, mental health, and recovery.

Media often sensationalize tobacco harm reduction, misinterpreting incomplete studies. A Guardian article claimed a study showed a third of UK teen vapers might start smoking, implying a gateway effect. Criticisms, including by Dr. Arielle Selya, questioned the study's methods and conclusions. Selya suggested a neutral approach to interpreting the results. The academic study warned of a potential link between vaping and smoking, while ASH UK reported concerns about vaping misconceptions among adults and youth. Selya attributed these misconceptions to sensationalist media coverage influencing public perception. The complex issue involves conflicting interpretations of data and potential biases.

PSM criticizes the Malaysian government's plan to ban vaping, calling it an overreach in personal habits. The chairman stresses that while vaping is harmful, criminalizing it is not the solution and suggests regulating it instead. He warns that prohibition can lead to a black market and hinder health monitoring. Comparisons are made to bans on alcohol and other unhealthy habits. The former MP advises against coercive legislation and warns of potential negative societal impacts akin to Orwell's "1984." Despite state actions, the government delays a nationwide ban to avoid legal repercussions from the vape industry.