The WHO’s Stance on THR
THR is a strategy aimed at moving tobacco smokers to potentially less risky nicotine alternatives such as e-cigarettes (vaping) or nicotine pouches. THR science and products provide an evidence-based method for smokers to reduce the harm caused by their use of tobacco.
A vital component of THR is to prevent disease and save lives by providing access to accurate information about the lower risks of reduced harm products relative to cigarette smoking.
Globally, THR Has Already Helped Save Lives
- Sweden: It’s estimated that over 10 years (1995-2005), nicotine pouches helped to reduce smoking rates in Sweden by an additional 3.7 percentage points.
- England: The use of e-cigarettes in quit attempts increased from 2011 onwards, so did the success rate of quitting.
- France: An estimated 700,000 successful ex-smokers in France believe that vaping helped them to quit.
The Life-Saving Potential of THR in Asia Pacific
In Asia Pacific, where the burden of smoking is even higher, research shows the potential impact is even greater.
A vital component of THR is to prevent disease and save lives by providing access to accurate information about the lower risks of reduced harm products relative to cigarette smoking.
- Bangladesh: Tobacco use is closely associated with the leading causes of death in Bangladesh. Executing tobacco harm reduction (THR) policies, ensuring access to THR products, and improving the accessibility to diagnosis and treatment of tobacco-related diseases could prevent the loss of around a million lives (920,000) in Bangladesh across the next four decades.
- Indonesia: Indonesia stands at the forefront of the global smoking epidemic, with 64.7% of its male population actively smoking. A strategic approach integrating Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR), cessation programs, and enhanced lung cancer treatment could save 4.6 million lives in Indonesia by 2060.
Benefits of THR
Nicotine vs. Smoking
- Risk continuum shows nicotine products can save lives at a faster rate than previously possible. - Annual Review of Public Health
- Nicotine is relatively harmless, all the harm from smoking comes from tobacco smoke. - Public Health England
- Nicotine products significantly reduce harm and the risk of tobacco-related disease. - FDA
- Vaping and nicotine pouches are 99.75% less risky than cigarettes - OSF Preprints
Cessation
- E-cigarettes help smokers to stop smoking in the long term. - Cochrane Library
- Vaping is twice as effective as NRT. - New England Journal of Medicine
- E-cigarettes help smokers get off and stay off cigarettes long term. - Addictive Behaviours Journal
- There is a direct link between the declining smoking rates in the US and e- cigarette uptake. - British Medical Journal
- 90% of smokers start vaping to help them quit. - European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (ETHRA)
- Vapers are 5x more likely to quit than those who go cold turkey. - Addiction
Saving Lives
- Vaping helps 50,000 – 70,000 smokers quit every year in the UK. Addiction
- 700,000 smokers have quit thanks to vaping in France. - European Journal of Public Health
- Nicotine pouch use has helped Sweden achieve the lowest smoking rate in Europe. - Royal College of Physicians
- 5 past presidents of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco say vaping can benefit public health. - American Journal of Public Health
- 6.6 million lives could be saved in the US over the next ten years by switching Smokers to vaping. - Georgetown University Medical Center
- E-cigarettes could save 3.3 million life-years by 2070. - Nicotine & Tobacco Research