December 2021 Newsletter

The December 2021 issue focuses on nicotine, smoking harm, and tobacco harm reduction. The main article explains that nicotine is often misunderstood. While nicotine is addictive, it is not the main cause of cancer, lung disease, or most smoking-related deaths. The major danger comes from burning tobacco and inhaling smoke that contains thousands of toxic chemicals.

The newsletter explains that nicotine delivery matters. Smoking delivers nicotine very quickly and strongly reinforces dependence. Vaping and nicotine replacement therapy usually deliver nicotine more slowly and are generally considered less dependence-forming than smoking.

The issue also discusses Pakistan’s need for better cessation services and harm reduction policy. It notes that e-cigarettes are already being used in Pakistan, mostly in urban areas, but prices are high and regulation is unclear. The newsletter argues that Pakistan should make cessation services more affordable and include harm reduction in national tobacco control policy.

Other sections discuss New Zealand’s plan to ban cigarette sales for future generations, the use of less harmful alternatives as a first step toward better health for smokers, evidence that vaping may help heavy smokers quit, and the need for WHO to consider tobacco harm reduction as part of its public health approach.

• The newsletter explains that nicotine is often wrongly blamed for most smoking-related illness and death.
• Nicotine is addictive, but the main harm from smoking comes from burning tobacco and inhaling smoke.
• Nicotine does not cause cancer or lung disease and plays only a minor role in heart disease compared with smoking.
• Smoking creates stronger dependence because nicotine reaches the brain very quickly.
• Vaping and nicotine replacement therapy usually deliver nicotine more slowly than cigarettes.
• The issue says Pakistan needs more affordable and effective smoking cessation services.
• ARI estimated that Pakistan had around 30,000 to 35,000 vapers and more than 100 vape stores.
• New Zealand planned to ban tobacco sales for future generations as part of its smoke-free goal.
• Tobacco harm reduction products can reduce exposure to toxic smoke by avoiding combustion.
• A Roswell Park study suggested daily vaping may help heavy smokers quit or reduce smoking.
• The newsletter argues that WHO should give tobacco harm reduction a chance.