Two decades of global tobacco control: time for a rethink
November 11, 2025 by springer.com
Two decades of global tobacco control: time for a rethink
Cigarette smoking remains a major health issue despite tobacco control efforts. Harm reduction strategies like using safer nicotine alternatives are crucial. Current tobacco control methods have limitations, leading to slow decline in smoking rates globally. Successful implementation of MPOWER measures has not significantly reduced smoking prevalence. Policy reform, accepting harm reduction, can accelerate reduction in smoking-related harm. Clinicians should support patients in using less harmful alternatives to combat smoking. Policymakers should focus on reducing smoking rather than banning safer alternatives. Adopting harm reduction in tobacco control strategies is vital for the next phase of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to achieve faster declines in smoking-related diseases and deaths.
