The Twelve Truths of Tobacco Harm Reduction
November 04, 2026 by substack.com
The Twelve Truths of Tobacco Harm Reduction
Six weeks without cigarettes followed by a return to smoking should raise questions about what changed, rather than simply being recorded as an unsuccessful quit attempt.
Twelve key principles of tobacco harm reduction highlight the importance of understanding individual behaviour, access to affordable alternatives and the difference between trying a smoke-free product and switching completely.
The central message is that tobacco policy should measure meaningful outcomes, including sustained smoking cessation and reduced exposure to combustion, rather than relying solely on sales figures, restrictions or short-term statistics.
8.20% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 1.8 million current smokers in Australia 9.50% of men are current smokers but only 6.90% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
