Stories

My name is Elsa Butler and I'm an author on the Cochran review of electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation today I'm going to talk to you about the results from our latest update to our living review published in January 2024 this work is supported by cancer research UK and the National Institute for health research the first and last authors on this review are Nicola Linsen and Jamie Hartman Boyce and we have no conflicts of interest to declare.

With an estimated 7 million smokers out of a population of 19 million, the Eastern European country of Romania has a lot of work to do to help its citizens quit the deadly habit. Instead, Romania plans to enact a new excise tax that would double the cost of safer nicotine products, like vaping.

A study from the University of York shows that social media advertising, often endorsed by celebrities and influencers, is contributing to the popularity of vaping among young people. The researchers reviewed 11 studies on various social media platforms and found that e-cigarette marketing strategies resulted in increased usage intentions and actual usage among young individuals.

Dr. Şule Akçay, president of the Turkish Respiratory Research Association, highlighted the dangers of tobacco use on World No Tobacco Day. She emphasized that smoking is responsible for 30% of all cancers and that one in every two tobacco users experiences health problems. Smoking is linked to various diseases including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Akçay also warned about the increased prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, cognitive impairment, and reproductive system complications among smokers.

The Brazilian government is proposing a prohibition of vapes and heated tobacco products. This consultation response sets out why this will protect the cigarettes trade, promote smoking, nurture criminal networks and do more harm than good. I just responded to the latest (of many) Brazilian consultations on its plans to prohibit vapes and heated tobacco products, which its regulator wrongly refers to as “Electronic Smoking Devices. ”

The UK's recent unveiling of a total ban on disposable vapes, and additional flavour restrictions, risks undoing the nation's pioneering tobacco harm reduction approach to reducing smoking. Clive Bates joins us in today's episode as we look at the potentially disasterous consequences of a disposable vape ban, as well as the convenient timing of this announcement to coincide with the start of the FCTC COP10 in Panama.

People experiencing homelessness are significantly more likely to smoke cigarettes and face greater health risks associated with smoking, according to evidence from the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR). Rates of smoking among this population range from 76-85% in the UK to 80% in the US. The poor conditions faced by homeless individuals, such as exposure to pollution and cold weather, exacerbate these harms. Tobacco harm reduction, including access to vaping products and accurate information, is urgently needed to address this issue and save lives.

The Albanese Government has implemented world-leading reforms to address the rising concern of vaping among young Australians. Starting with the ban on importing disposable, single-use vapes, further changes will be implemented in March. Restrictions on flavors, reduction in nicotine concentration, and the use of pharmaceutical packaging aim to make vapes less appealing to young people. New laws will make it illegal to produce, advertise, or sell single-use disposable or non-therapeutic vapes nationwide. The goal is to reduce the availability and accessibility of vaping products and ensure that they are only obtainable from pharmacies for therapeutic purposes.

Nicotine pouches, specifically the brand Zonnic, will no longer be available for purchase in convenience stores in British Columbia. Premier David Eby and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced that the pouches will now be sold behind the pharmacy counter to prevent minors from easily accessing the addictive product. The move is in response to concerns about youth using smoking cessation products recreationally and the attractive packaging of Zonnic.

A new study led by researchers from Boston University School of Public Health found that hookah companies in the US have low compliance with federal regulations for including nicotine warnings on their packaging. Only 3 out of 33 assessed brands were 100% compliant with all warning label requirements. Hookah smoking is not safer than cigarette smoking, as it contains harmful components such as nicotine, tar, heavy metals, and carbon monoxide.