Public health doesn’t depend on quit-or-nothing
April 28, 2026 by newsroom.co.nz
Public health doesn’t depend on quit-or-nothing
Tobacco control in New Zealand shows accelerated smoking decline with the adoption of harm reduction strategies like vape use, alongside traditional control methods. This approach significantly reduced smoking rates, especially among at-risk populations. Combining harm reduction with existing tobacco control measures could effectively combat smoking globally. Transitioning smokers to safer alternatives can save lives without promoting nicotine-free status as the sole goal. New Zealand's success emphasizes addressing harm alongside tobacco control for better public health outcomes. The global community could learn from this approach to achieve a smoke-free future, prioritizing outcomes over abstinence-only approaches to reduce smoking-related deaths effectively.
8.60% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 364,000 current smokers in New Zealand.
SOURCE: GSTHR
