September 2024 Newsletter

The September 2024 issue focuses on the need to expand smoking cessation services in Pakistan. The lead story reports that ARI has called for effective and affordable quitting support for adult smokers across the country. ARI says Pakistan has around 31 million tobacco users and that smoking contributes to cancer, heart disease, respiratory illness, and large economic losses.

The newsletter explains that tobacco use causes about 160,000 deaths every year in Pakistan. It also mentions that the total cost of smoking-related diseases and deaths in 2019 was much higher than the tax revenue collected from the tobacco industry. ARI says public awareness, counselling, and affordable nicotine replacement therapies can help adult smokers quit.

The issue also includes practical guidance on how smokers can cope after quitting. It explains that withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, irritability, anxiety, poor sleep, difficulty concentrating, increased appetite, and mood changes are common. It advises smokers to stay active, avoid triggers, manage caffeine use, and seek medical help when needed.

Another article discusses Sweden’s progress toward becoming smoke-free. It says Sweden has reduced smoking rates by making safer alternatives such as snus, nicotine pouches, and vapes more acceptable, accessible, and affordable. The newsletter also covers the UK example, where research and policy support for vaping have helped reduce smoking rates.

The issue also reports that Ireland is moving toward a ban on disposable vapes because of youth use, environmental concerns, and public-health concerns. The final article, “When pride hinders public health,” argues that public-health leaders should be willing to update their views when new evidence shows that reduced-risk nicotine products may help some adult smokers move away from combustible cigarettes.

• The main story calls for a major scale-up of effective and affordable smoking cessation services in Pakistan.
• Pakistan has around 31 million tobacco users and smoking creates major health and economic costs.
• ARI says counselling, public awareness, and affordable nicotine replacement therapies can help adult smokers quit.
• Cravings, irritability, anxiety, poor sleep, and mood changes are common after quitting smoking.
• Sweden is presented as a strong example of tobacco harm reduction and smoke-free progress.
• The UK example shows how research, policy, and vaping have helped reduce smoking rates.
• Ireland is moving toward a ban on disposable vapes because of youth use and environmental concerns.
• The final article argues that public-health thinking should change when new evidence supports reduced-risk options for adult smokers.

The main story says ARI has called for a major increase in effective and affordable smoking cessation services across Pakistan. It explains that smoking causes serious health, economic, and social harm, while many adult smokers cannot access the help they need to quit, especially in rural areas.