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Risk Continuum

The risk continuum is a scientific method to compare the harms of continuing to smoke versus nicotine alternatives like vaping and NRT.

Nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes are comparable to nicotine replacement therapies such as gum and sprays on the continuum.

“It is the smoke that kills, not the nicotine”

Russel M.

A safer alternative for smokers

Tobacco and nicotine products can be placed on a continuum of risk, with cigarettes being classified as high risk and nicotine products that don’t burn tobacco classified as lower risk.

THR encourages smokers to move down the risk continuum by switching from high-risk tobacco products to far less harmful nicotine products.

Nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes rank alongside common nicotine replacement therapies such as gum and sprays on the risk continuum.

Although nicotine is the major addictive substance in tobacco products, it is not to blame for the disease and death caused by smoking tobacco.

When you burn tobacco, you inhale smoke that is filled with thousands of dangerous chemicals. When you use nicotine pouches or e-cigarettes you don’t burn tobacco and don’t expose yourself to the same risks.

There is a common belief that nicotine products are the same as cigarettes, but the science does not support this belief.

New nicotine products like e-cigarettes (vaping) and pouches achieve similar results as nicotine gums and patches.

The confusion around the safety of these products must be addressed.

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