Stories

David T. Sweanor discusses the historical opposition faced in efforts to combat cigarette smoking and improve public health. He highlights ongoing barriers hindering the adoption of safer alternatives to smoking, such as misinformation campaigns and regulatory obstacles. Sweanor emphasizes missed opportunities for a potential market transformation away from lethal cigarettes, despite the clear health benefits. He also criticizes the resistance from various anti-tobacco groups towards embracing advances in tobacco harm reduction. Sweanor concludes by underscoring the immense potential for positive change in public health outcomes if these barriers were overcome.

GFN News speaks with Filter’s Will Godfrey about reports of dramatic increases in vaping-related emergency department visits across several US states, especially among youth, and examines what those numbers truly represent beyond the headlines. The conversation highlights how headlines like “teen ER visits surge” can obscure distinctions between acute nicotine toxicity and far more subjective “e‑cigarette dependence” admissions that have driven much of the increase in reported cases. The discussion also explores how clinicians may mark visits as vape-related simply because a patient discloses vaping, even when it’s incidental to the medical issue, potentially inflating counts without reflecting actual vaping-caused harm.

Donald Trump campaigned on saving vaping. But under his watch, the FDA has seized more products than any previous administration and doubled down on the very anti-nicotine crusade he once promised to stop. In our ten years covering the U.S. Vaping industry never has the future looked so bleak. Joining us today to unpack the mounting contradictions of Trump’s FDA is Lindsey Stroud, THR policy expert and founder of Tobacco Harm Reduction 101 at thr101.org.

The Malaysian Ministry of Health plans to raise excise duty on vape liquids tenfold, proposing MYR4 per mL, ahead of a complete ban on e-cigarettes. The Ministry seeks to align vape taxes with those on cigarettes to discourage vaping. Industry representatives push back, suggesting a maximum tax of 80 sen per milliliter to prevent increased illicit trade. The government aims to implement the ban gradually through education and enforcement, pending Cabinet approval.

The University of Birmingham is conducting the EVALUATE study, led by Dr. Aaron Scott, to investigate the long-term health effects of vaping as a smoking cessation aid. The £1.46 million project funded by the MRC will monitor 200 participants over a year, comparing their lung health to non-smokers. Researchers will analyze gene expression, toxic substance accumulation, and lung cell changes to understand vaping's impact on health. This study is crucial given the WHO's concerns about rising global vaping rates. The aim is to provide evidence for individuals to make informed decisions about quitting smoking with e-cigarettes.

Malaysia plans to ban vaping products by mid-2026, citing concerns about unregulated sales. Dr. Wan Puteh highlights risks of illegal markets and potential harm to smokers. Banning vapes may increase illicit trade and harm public health, as seen in neighboring countries. Advocates suggest legalizing and regulating to ensure consumer safety. The ban could impact over 30,000 workers and a billion-dollar industry. They urge the government to consider a balanced regulatory approach that supports harm reduction. The move aims to protect public health and prevent the proliferation of unsafe products in the market.

The European Commission is considering proposals on nicotine pouches that could impact tobacco harm reduction in the EU. Plans include a potential ban on pouches, flavor restrictions, and legal liabilities for manufacturers. These measures risk reversing progress in reducing smoking rates and harming public health. Nicotine pouches have played a crucial role in harm reduction, as seen in Sweden. The proposed regulations might push individuals back to smoking, fueling illicit trade. The Commission's rush in regulation lacks solid evidence and is poised for adoption at COP-11 in November, urging member states to prioritize evidence-based policymaking for public health.

Toxicologist Autumn Bernal explains why harm reduction keeps her in the fight: reducing disease burden for adult smokers through better product design, rigorous toxicology, and clear science communication. She highlights the core engineering challenge for ENDS: optimizing heating to minimize emissions while effectively delivering nicotine - without the harmful constituents found in cigarettes.

The new WHO report presents updated estimates of tobacco use among people aged 15 and older from 2000 to 2024, with projections to 2030. It tracks global, regional, and country-level trends and serves as a key measure of progress in implementing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The estimates, updated every two years, represent WHO’s official data for Sustainable Development Goal indicator 3.a.1 and also support monitoring of the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2013–2020 and the WHO Fourteenth General Programme of Work.

Global smoking rates are decreasing, but e-cigarettes are causing a rise in nicotine addiction, says the World Health Organization. While smokers have reduced from 1.38 billion (2000) to 1.2 billion (2024), one in five adults still use tobacco. Over 100 million people are vaping globally, with 15 million being children aged 13 to 15. Children are nine times more likely to vape than adults in countries with data available. WHO urges countries to intensify tobacco control efforts to combat the increasing e-cigarette use targeting youth. Women show a larger decline in tobacco use compared to men, emphasizing the need for stronger tobacco control policies.