Stories

A wife rushes her husband to the ER for breathing problems, where he's diagnosed with COPD. Stigma surrounds his smoking history, affecting his treatment. The healthcare system offers little support, leaving the wife to research COPD herself. Despite quitting smoking, proper tests weren't done initially. COPD changes their lives drastically, limiting his activities. Stigma persists in healthcare, with misconceptions about nicotine and its relation to diseases like COPD. The couple advocates for better understanding and care for COPD patients. As World COPD Day approaches, the focus shifts to combating stigma, misinformation, and improving care for those affected by COPD.

The Irish government approved banning disposable vapes and imposing restrictions on nicotine products to protect children. The move follows Northern Ireland's ban on single-use vapes. Retailers face fines and jail time for selling single-use e-cigarettes. Legislation will also regulate the sale of other nicotine products and restrict advertising, with new laws under consideration. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill supports the measures to safeguard youth from nicotine harm.

The new Briefing Paper,  “From cigarettes to snuff to nicotine pouches: the unusual Icelandic model for tobacco harm reduction”, is now available. The paper provides an overview of how Iceland has transitioned from high smoking rates to becoming one of the world’s leading examples of tobacco harm reduction. It explains how strict tobacco control measures, combined with the growing availability of lower-risk nicotine products such as snuff, vapes, and especially nicotine pouches, have led to a significant decline in cigarette use. The briefing explains how these products are regulated, how their use has been changing, and what this means for public health. You can read the full document here: gsthr.org.

The WHO warns about new tobacco products targeting youth, leading to addiction. Despite progress, eight million still die from tobacco-related diseases yearly. Marketing e-cigarettes and nicotine products to teens is concerning, with usage nine times higher in adolescents than adults in 63 countries. Companies prioritize profits over public health. The WHO urges countries to regulate these products like traditional tobacco, with bans in some nations and strict controls recommended globally.

Belgian Health minister Vandenbroucke aims to ban flavored vapes, except tobacco, to curb youth nicotine addiction. The move follows advice from the Superior Health Council and aims to reduce the appeal of vaping to children. The Netherlands already allows only tobacco flavor, resulting in decreased vaping and smoking rates. While some argue for certain flavors to help smokers quit, prioritizing youth protection is key. Vaping among students has surged, prompting the need for stricter enforcement. Despite opposition from industry groups, Vandenbroucke pushes for the ban's prompt implementation, building on previous measures to reduce youth smoking and vaping.

Tobacco harm reductionists face attacks while advocating for safer nicotine products. Personal attacks and intimidation are common tactics by opponents trying to discredit them. Recent attacks targeted Dr. Farsalinos and THR advocate Bates ahead of COP11. Glantz's anti-vape stance led him to attack Bates for advocating THR. Siegel criticized Glantz for misrepresenting the scientific evidence. The misleading claims aim to distort the benefits of safer nicotine products compared to smoking. The attacks within the tobacco control movement hinder progress in reducing tobacco-related diseases. Calling out such smearing is crucial to combat unjustified criticisms and uphold the integrity of the debate on tobacco harm reduction.

Young people in Scotland are experimenting with nicotine pouches and experiencing negative effects such as nausea and fainting, according to new research from ScotCen published in Addiction. Nicotine pouches, introduced to the UK in 2019, are unregulated and can still be legally sold to under-18s, though upcoming legislation may change this. ScotCen conducted the UK’s first qualitative study on how 14–16-year-olds perceive and use these products, involving focus groups with 77 pupils and interviews with 13 school staff across four Scottish schools.

Smokers increasingly think vaping is as harmful as smoking, despite evidence showing it's far less risky. Misinformation perpetuates this belief, impacting public health. Misconceptions arise from the misrepresentation of vaping in the media, promoting fear over facts. Negative perceptions are reinforced by international campaigns funded by Michael Bloomberg. As smokers remain misinformed, the missed opportunity for harm reduction is highlighted, with vaping offering a significantly safer alternative to tobacco. Public trust in science communication is crucial in dispelling myths and promoting informed choices.

Michael Bloomberg's foundation funds NGOs to control global health policy, specifically targeting tobacco harm reduction tools like vaping. By investing billions in activist groups, health NGOs, and the WHO, Bloomberg influences public health decisions globally. These organizations, dubbed "Bloomberg Babies," push his anti-nicotine agenda. The network includes groups like the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Corporate Accountability International, and Vital Strategies. This concentrated control raises concerns over transparency, tax avoidance, and bias in public health discourse. Despite hefty funding, the effectiveness of Bloomberg's anti-tobacco campaigns is questioned, with criticism of hindering harm reduction efforts and promoting questionable policies.

The European Union’s lack of unity during a crucial WHO meeting on tobacco bans has served as a “testing ground” ahead of an upcoming debate on the EU’s own tobacco rules, an EU diplomat said. For the first time, the EU will remain silent during discussions at the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, taking place on 17–22 November in Geneva. The meeting will focus on strict global measures against tobacco, including new products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches. Overall, EU member states agreed on the need for stricter rules for both traditional tobacco and emerging nicotine-based products.