April 2024 Newsletter

The April 2024 issue focuses on new efforts to end smoking and improve cessation support. The lead story explains that the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World has relaunched as Global Action to End Smoking. The organization says the new name reflects a stronger focus on research, education, and practical support for people who smoke.

The main story also reports that Global Action will support research by the Urban Institute. This research will study tobacco-use disorder and nicotine dependence among low-income people in the United States. The aim is to better understand the barriers that prevent people from quitting and to suggest useful solutions for health professionals, policymakers, and consumers.

The newsletter also discusses research showing that e-cigarettes may now be helping more adult smokers quit cigarettes than in the past. It mentions recent data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study, which found higher quitting rates among smokers who used e-cigarettes in later study periods.

Another article discusses the Royal College of Physicians report on e-cigarettes. The report says e-cigarettes can help people quit smoking, but stronger regulation is needed to protect young people and non-smokers. The issue also includes ARI’s call for Pakistan to plan for ending combustible smoking by improving cessation services and including tobacco harm reduction in tobacco control.

The final article, “No smoke, less harm,” argues that nicotine is often misunderstood and that the main public-health danger is combustible smoking, not nicotine itself. It presents Sweden as an example of how smoke-free nicotine products may help reduce tobacco-related disease and deaths.

• FSFW has relaunched as Global Action to End Smoking.
• The new focus includes research, education, cessation support, and lower-risk solutions.
• Global Action will support research on quitting barriers among low-income people in the United States.
• Recent data suggests e-cigarettes may help some adult smokers quit cigarettes.
• The Royal College of Physicians says e-cigarettes can support quitting but need stronger regulation.
• ARI calls on Pakistan to plan for ending combustible smoking.
• Pakistan needs better smoking cessation services for adult smokers.
• The issue argues that the main public-health enemy is combustible smoking, not nicotine itself.

The main story explains that the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World has relaunched as Global Action to End Smoking. The organization says its new focus is on research, education, smoking cessation, and helping people who smoke move toward lower-risk choices. It also announced support for research on quitting barriers among low-income people in the United States.