Stories

The ESPAD monitors substance use among European students since 1995. The recent Finnish survey shows declining alcohol and tobacco use, but a rise in e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. While fewer students binge drink, some believe it poses fewer health risks. Daily smoking has decreased, but e-cigarette use is up. Snus and gambling have decreased, while cannabis use is slightly down. Stimulant drug experimentation is increasing. Preventive education is crucial, with focus on families. The forthcoming 2025 international ESPAD report will compare Finland to other European nations. Sweden and Norway show lower alcohol and cannabis use trends.

Despite consuming nicotine at similar rates as other European countries, Swedes have reduced health risks by favoring alternative nicotine products over traditional smoking. Research confirms the benefits, leading to a 38% lower tobacco-related death rate for Swedish men. Acknowledging nicotine's role, Sweden promotes safer nicotine consumption without banning it entirely. This approach challenges misconceptions about nicotine causing cancer and highlights the importance of harm reduction in tobacco use. Dr. Carl Fagerstrom's report, ‘No Smoke, Less Harmful,’ advocates for a global shift towards harm reduction to save lives and emphasizes that smoke, not nicotine, poses the real health threat.

Most people with opioid use disorder also smoke tobacco, with higher smoking rates than the general population. Tobacco-related diseases pose a greater risk than drug use, leading to over half of substance use disorder patients dying from such illnesses. Quitting smoking is challenging for this group. Tobacco harm reduction, like switching to e-cigarettes, is not widely embraced by healthcare providers. However, some practitioners now integrate patient-centered tobacco harm reduction strategies in their work with drug users. They discuss reduced-risk nicotine products, deciding when to introduce harm reduction, and how patients respond to these approaches.

Maldives's Health Protection Agency proposes increasing taxes on vapes and all tobacco products to deter youth usage. The agency worries about rising vape and nicotine pouch usage among teenagers and advocates for stricter regulations, including higher taxes. Despite vapes not containing tobacco, they are included in Maldives' tobacco regulations. Revenue from increased taxes will go towards tobacco control efforts. The country already spends a significant amount on imported cigarettes and tobacco-related diseases. The agency also calls for measures to limit tobacco product advertisement and exposure, strengthen smoking regulations, and protect non-smokers' rights. Vaping is legal but restricted to areas where smoking is permitted.

Social workers play a crucial role in promoting tobacco harm reduction, especially among marginalized communities. The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction emphasizes the significant impact social workers can have on vulnerable populations, such as those with mental health conditions. Equipping social workers with tools to support smoking cessation and harm reduction could be life-saving, as many individuals use smoking as a coping mechanism. Providing advice on alternatives like vapes and heated tobacco products could save lives and benefit both clients and communities. Despite the high smoking rates among vulnerable populations, few countries train social workers in this area, presenting a missed opportunity for public health.

Philip Morris is bypassing the ban on flavored tobacco in the Netherlands by launching Levia, a nicotine product made from cellulose. Priced at €6.60 for a pack of 20 sticks, available in menthol and berry flavors, they are used in a vape-like device. Critics warn that although Levia is tobacco-free, it contains addictive nicotine, with unknown long-term health effects. Concerns arise as it may lead to continued smoking. The Dutch authorities cannot act due to current regulations but may change them soon. Trimbos research shows a concerning number of Dutch youth vaping and smoking, dispelling the idea that vaping deters smoking among youngsters.

Around 980,000 – or almost one in five – of 11 to 17 year olds have tried vaping, according to new data. While more than half (53%) had only tried vaping once or twice, only 1.3% of participants said they no longer vaped. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) estimates that 230,000 children vape more than once a week. The charity said: ‘There is an indication that young vapers may be more dependent than they were four years ago, with more current vapers reporting strong urges to vape compared to 2020. This suggests that newer products may be increasing dependency, underscoring the urgency for stronger regulations.’

New Zealand aims to achieve smoke-free status by the end of 2025 by promoting vaping as a smoking cessation tool. The country's smoking rate has dropped to 6.8%, with the government anticipating it to go below 5% soon. Vaping has been instrumental in reducing smoking, with a 43% drop since 2020. The government introduced public support programs and a vaping information website to aid smokers in quitting. New Zealand's successful anti-smoking efforts serve as a model for other countries, as vaping is deemed safer than smoking. Restrictions on vapes have been implemented to prevent youth vaping, while reusable vapes remain available as an adult smoking cessation aid.

The 2023 Nebraska Youth Risk Behavior Survey results show record low traditional tobacco use among high school students, with a significant decrease in youth vaping since 2019. Combustible cigarettes use among high schoolers decreased by 66.1% for ever-use and 82.6% for current use from 2019 to 2023. Smokeless tobacco use also declined by 47.2%. Youth vaping decreased by 54.1% for ever-use and 59.6% for current use. While youth vaping has decreased, adult e-cigarette use rose by 26.9% in 2022. These trends highlight successful public health efforts in reducing youth tobacco use and support for harm reduction tools like e-cigarettes for adult smokers in Nebraska.

Evapo's analysis of the 2025 disposable vape ban predicts a potential £2.8 billion economic loss and 18,000 job cuts, highlighting the vaping industry's significant contribution to the UK economy. Removing disposable vapes may hinder smoking cessation efforts, increase NHS costs, and fuel illicit markets. International bans have led to a surge in illegal vape products, posing health risks and depriving governments of tax revenue. CEO Andrej Kuttruf urges policymakers to consider these impacts carefully to safeguard both the economy and public health.