Stories

The government has just ramped up its measures to curb tobacco use with the issuance of a new regulation that places stricter controls on tobacco sales and distribution. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report published earlier this year, the country ranks among the world’s largest cigarette markets and has a high prevalence of young smokers, with a staggering 35.4 percent of adult tobacco users, or more than 70 million Indonesians.

Approximately half of US adult smokers attempted to quit in 2022, but less than 40% used counseling or medication, with only 8.8% being successful. Clinician intervention and evidence-based treatment can improve quitting odds, but disparities persist in smoking cessation. Despite progress, 28.8 million adults still smoke. Efforts to increase smoking cessation and support are crucial, including behavioral counseling and medications. Results highlight the need for tailored cessation services, ensuring equitable access to treatments for all demographics. Continued surveillance is essential to monitor progress and address tobacco-related disparities.

Discover how Sweden and New Zealand are leading the world in reducing smoking rates through innovation.

It would be a terrible irony if not for the fact that it appears deliberate. FDA’s regulation of the U.S. vaping industry not only delivers big tobacco a de facto monopoly on the legal sale of vaping products, but it also grants them a monopoly on harm reduction. Yet it decries “tobacco harm reduction” as an “industry term.” Joining us today to dissect this disturbing paradox is eminent scientist and cardiologist Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos. This interview was shot on location in Warsaw, Poland, at the Global Forum on Nicotine.

New Zealand has decreased excise tax on heated tobacco products by 50%, aiming to promote harm reduction in smoking. The country champions safer alternatives like heated tobacco products and vaping, with a goal to become smoke-free by 2025. The move has sparked debate, with some concerned about Big Tobacco influence. Experts recommend affordable access to lower-risk nicotine substitutes for effective smoking cessation. However, awareness about heated tobacco products remains low. Despite criticism, reducing taxes on these products could benefit those looking to quit smoking, particularly low-income individuals.

Two individuals were harmed by vaping synthetic opioids, with one teen dying. The substances were THC mixed with protonitazene, a lethal synthetic opioid. Medical experts share these cases to raise awareness of synthetic opioids infecting various drugs. Protonitazene, 100 times stronger than heroin, was the culprit, leading to overdoses and intense medical intervention. The incidents highlight the danger of vaping such drugs without knowledge, urging the availability of anti-overdose drugs to combat this issue. Authorities should enhance harm reduction measures, including drug checking services and wider access to naloxone. Awareness, education, and quick emergency response are crucial in preventing opioid overdoses.

We are very pleased to announce that we have just published our latest Briefing Paper: "Smoking and vulnerable populations: supporting smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction in social work". Social workers build relationships with individuals who are often from marginalised or vulnerable communities where smoking rates are disproportionately high. This Briefing Paper calls for tobacco harm reduction to become more integrated into their work to reduce the harms from smoking.

Tragically, those who should know better—medical doctors, public health officials, and the media—are reluctant to promote nicotine vaping as a tool for harm reduction. Instead, they make a deliberate choice to ignore or avoid acknowledging the truth about vaping. This problem is widespread, including in Latin America. Learn more in this special hybrid English/Spanish episode of GFN Interviews.

Scientists at Fraunhofer ITEM developed EVape, a device to test e-liquids' vaporization under controlled conditions, vital for toxicological assessments. E-cigarettes lack consistent temperature regulation, leading to varied emissions. EVape analyzes these emissions for toxicity, addressing unknown risks of heated ingredients and aiding in regulatory oversight. The system allows manufacturers to enhance e-liquid safety by identifying harmful substances pre-production, setting temperature limits, and monitoring emissions in real-time. The team aims to license EVape for broader use in labs and by regulatory bodies to ensure thorough testing of e-liquids before market circulation.

The Polish Ministry of Finance plans a 25% rise in tobacco excise duty to generate 4-5 billion PLN yearly. Cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, and e-cigarette products will be affected, with e-liquid facing a 75% increase. Tobacco-related costs in Poland total around 57 billion PLN annually, and globally reach up to $2 trillion. The excise hike aims to tackle these costs, mainly in healthcare and productivity loss. However, it is considered inadequate against the overall economic impact of tobacco.