Stories

The annual World No Tobacco Day aims to raise awareness about tobacco harms, but the World Health Organization's negative stance on e-cigarettes has sparked controversy. Despite evidence showing e-cigarettes are safer than smoking and aid in quitting, WHO positions them as threats. Policy recommendations to restrict access to e-cigarettes conflict with independent research findings that support their effectiveness for smoking cessation. Concerns have been raised about WHO's dissemination of misleading information on nicotine alternatives, potentially impacting global public health strategies. Critics argue that WHO's messaging undermines the evidence-based benefits of e-cigarettes for smokers seeking healthier alternatives.

On April 22, the British Medical Journal and a new investigative publication, The Examination, funded by billionaire activist Michael Bloomberg, declared a victory. Their “investigation” had shut down a new continuing medical education program in smoking, tobacco and nicotine offered by the respected medical information provider Medscape. The course had been running for a few weeks and had proved popular with participants.

The number of people using vapes in NSW increased last year, but survey data suggests more than half are considering quitting in the next six months. According to figures from the latest NSW Population Health Survey, published by the Ministry of Health on Friday, almost 19 per cent of people aged 16 to 24 identify as a current user of vapes, also known as e-cigarettes. Self-reported vaping rates increased in every age group in the 2022-23 survey. However, among under-35s – who have the highest vaping rates – the increase in uptake was smaller than the previous year.

37 million children aged 13 to 15 globally use tobacco. E-cigarettes are popular in the U.S., with 7.7% of students using them. Tobacco use starts in childhood, impacting brain development. Tobacco companies target youth through marketing tactics like cartoon imagery and product placement. Despite global efforts, tobacco companies continue to market to children and adolescents worldwide. Social media platforms are used to normalize tobacco use. Stronger regulations and awareness campaigns are crucial to protect youth from tobacco marketing. Educating young people about digital media literacy can help them critically evaluate tobacco advertising. Increased awareness is key to preventing youth tobacco consumption.

El 30 de mayo, Día Mundial del Vapeo, representa una oportunidad crucial para enfrentar el tabaquismo de manera efectiva. En Argentina, sin embargo, las alternativas al cigarrillo que eliminan la combustión y son menos dañinas están prohibidas. Esto priva a los fumadores de opciones válidas que podrían ayudarles a dejar el hábito, a diferencia de otros países donde estas opciones están disponibles. A nivel mundial, hay 1300 millones de fumadores, 7 millones de ellos en Argentina. Desafortunadamente, la mayoría de ellos no dejará de fumar, lo que resulta en 45.000 muertes anuales en Argentina debido a enfermedades relacionadas con el tabaquismo.

Australia intensified its war on vaping with new, punitive regulations that will criminalize nicotine vaping products to an extent unseen in the Western world. The government explicitly states that its goal is to 'reverse the increasing uptake of recreational nicotine.

Advocacy group Rights4Vapers holds a news conference in Ottawa to criticize the federal government’s possible ban on flavoured vapour products. Health Canada proposed a ban in 2021, but it was never put into effect. Providing remarks are the group’s spokesperson Maria Papaioannoy, Marion Burt and lawyer Douglas Elliott.

Bhutan's tobacco ban, implemented in 2004, aimed to create a tobacco-free society but faced challenges. Despite reductions in public smoking, enforcement issues led to a flourishing black market. In 2021, the ban was lifted due to smuggling concerns during the pandemic. Lack of support for quitting led to the ban's failure, highlighting the need for cessation services and alternatives. Public health and psychiatry professionals in Bhutan face barriers in providing cessation support. The country now grapples with rising tobacco use, signaling the importance of accessible cessation products and services to improve public health. Western influences on Bhutan's policies should give way to locally tailored solutions for sustained health and happiness.

Nicotine alternatives used in vapes being launched in the U.S. and abroad, such as 6-methyl nicotine, may be more potent and addictive than nicotine itself, though the scientific data remains incomplete, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and independent researchers. The synthetic substances - which have a chemical structure similar to that of nicotine - are not subject to U.S. tobacco and vaping regulations that are designed to control traditional nicotine, a highly addictive drug.

A recent survey by Loughborough University, for the Professional Footballers' Association, found that almost 1 in 5 male professional players use snus or nicotine pouches. The study, which included 628 male players and 51 Women's Super League players, revealed that 2 out of 5 had tried these products. The report suggests actual usage may be higher due to underreporting. While 48% of male players expressed a desire to quit in the next year, only 9% of WSL players expressed the same intent. Additionally, interviews were conducted with 16 club staff members.