#London #United Kingdom #Tobacco Harm Reduction #Safer Nicotine Products #Global Smoking Rates

New Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction Report

The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR) report, recently released by the UK-based agency Knowledge•Action•Change, has drawn attention to the increasing potential of safer nicotine products to effectively curb tobacco-related illnesses and deaths. This landmark 2024 report uses the latest evidence and data projections to evaluate the current global landscape of tobacco harm reduction (THR) initiatives.

Key Insights from the Report

The report asserts that safer nicotine products, including nicotine vapes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, have the potential to phase out traditional cigarette use permanently. It highlights the strong correlation between the rising adoption of these products and a noticeable decline in smoking prevalence across various countries.

With over a billion smokers globally, the report underscores the significant health benefits that could arise from encouraging smokers to transition to these safer alternatives. Research shows that legal access to a range of safer nicotine products could drastically improve public health outcomes.

Growing Global Acceptance

More than two-thirds of the adult population across almost 130 countries can legally access at least one form of a safer nicotine product, according to the report. However, it points out that the full potential of THR remains largely untapped, suggesting that more could be done to promote these alternatives.

The report provides a compelling statistic: the number of vapers worldwide surged to approximately 114 million, doubling from 58 million in 2018. An additional 30 million individuals are using other safer nicotine products, bringing the total number of safer nicotine users to around 144 million globally. Meanwhile, combustible tobacco products, which are responsible for a high mortality rate among users, remain legally available to the entire adult population.

Spotlight on Regional Success

The report delves into the effectiveness of THR initiatives in regions such as Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. Furthermore, it examines the success stories of four pioneering countries: the United Kingdom, Japan, Norway, and Aotearoa New Zealand. Each of these nations has developed unique approaches that have led to significant reductions in smoking prevalence.

Harry Shapiro, the Executive Editor and Lead Author of the report, stated that if the THR strategies are fully implemented, the world could witness a remarkable decline in the number of smokers. Such a shift could represent one of the most notable public health advancements of the 21st century.

Conclusion

The GSTHR 2024 report acts as a wake-up call for global health policies to embrace the potential of tobacco harm reduction. With better access to safer nicotine products and heightened awareness of their benefits, the international community stands at a crucial juncture to effectively reduce tobacco-related mortality and improve global health outcomes. It’s essential for stakeholders to harness these findings to inform policies that can save millions of lives worldwide.