Around 150 leading professionals from 18 countries – including those from the science, technology, health and policy-making sectors – took part in the third Asian Harm Reduction Forum held in Seoul, South Korea, on 29 August.
Newer alternative tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes and"heat-not-burn" tobacco products, have garnered polarising opinions from different camps. More recently, an outbreak of severe lung diseases linked to e-cigarettes and other vaping devices killed eight and sickened hundreds in the US over the past weeks. Most of the patients had reportedly vaped products purchased on the streets containing THC, the principal psychoactive compound found in cannabis.
Harm reduction a ‘human right’Harm reduction broadly refers to a range of policies, programmes and practices that aim to reduce the harms associated with a dangerous act or behaviour. The term is historically linked to interventions for intravenous drug abusers and has also been applied to alcohol use.
Dr Farsalinos noted that efficacy of approved methods, like nicotine replacement therapy, is low at under seven per cent. This is of particular concern when it comes to youths using alternative tobacco products; such as in Hong Kong, where a 2018 study showed that there had been a 55 per cent rise in the proportion of Primary 2 and Primary 4 pupils trying the products.
Dr Hiroya Kumamaru, vice-director at Japan’s AOI Universal Hospital, cited a 2017-2018 government-supported survey that polled 64,000 middle and high school students on different types of habits, including smoking. Apart from Norway, snus is also a popular alternative tobacco product in Sweden and has helped to dramatically reduced smoking prevalence in the country, added Dr Krol. The moist powdered tobacco is ingested by placing under one’s top lip and typically considered less harmful than e-cigarettes or"heat-not-burn" products.
“You might need to change the taxes, advertising restrictions or place of sale. We have the tools to shape a market, like we've done on so many other things,” said Prof Sweanor. “The good news is the FDA does recognise that tobacco and nicotine products exist on a continuum risk of smoking, with combustible cigarettes at the highest. The good news is they do remain committed to providing a pathway forward to ensure that e-cigarettes and other products are available to smokers,” said Carrie Wade, the director of harm reduction policy at R Street, a free-market think tank in DC.
All forms of smoking is bad - for smokers and those exposed to second smoke! Tougher the regulations and it's consequent actions - the BETTER!