Information Gaps Hindering Uptake Of Smoke Free Tobacco Alternatives Among Adult Smokers

THE 7th Edition of the Tobacco Atlas, identified devastating health and economic costs of global tobacco use with indications that In 2019 alone, tobacco use caused more than 8.67 million deaths worldwide (6.53 million men, 2.14 million women) and approximately US $2 trillion in economic damage. Most deaths were attributable to smoking, but 1.3 million died from second hand smoke exposure.

By Michael Gwarisa

Another worrying trend the tobacco atlas picked was the growing use and smoking of tobacco by the youths. Youth tobacco use (girls and/or boys) increased in 63 of 135 countries surveyed. In 2019, nearly half of all tobacco-related deaths occurred in countries with high Human Development Index scores. However, deaths from tobacco-related diseases are expected to increase in future years in lower-HDI countries as today’s smokers sicken and die.

Even though debate is still raging regarding the extent to which smoke free tobacco products reduce tobacco related harm, studies based on biomarkers consistently reveal that e-cigarette users are exposed to fewer toxicants and carcinogens than from tobacco smoke. Without accurate information about and access to scientifically  substantiated better alternatives to continued smoking, smokers will likely continue to use nicotine in the most harmful way of smoking. Majority of smokers lack information and knowledge around the existence of alternative smoke free tobacco products they could take up to replace combustive smoking.

Data form an Online survey that was conducted by Povaddo on behalf of PMI between February 5 and 23, 2022 indicate that 62% of exclusive smokers stated that they would more likely consider switching to alternative products like e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn tobacco products if they had clarity on how  these products differ from cigarettes and the science behind them. 79% of respondents agreed that adults who would otherwise continue smoking should have access to, and accurate information about, smoke-free alternatives that are scientifically substantiated to be a better choice than continued smoking.

A Fact-Sheet that accompanied the survey also noted that a third of adult smokers are still confused as to whether they should switch from cigarettes to better alternatives while 4 out 10 believe that the information they have been given about alternative to continued smoking is unclear and conflicting. According to the same data, only half of the population that was researched knew the facts about Nicotine especially the element that while it’s addictive, and not risk-free, it is not the primary cause of smoking-related diseases. Burning is the cause of smoking related diseases and deaths.

The survey was fielded among over 44,000 general population adults aged 21 and older in 
22 countries namely Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, 
Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, 
Portugal, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, and United States.

The survey noted that the lack of accurate information has primarily led to a decline in the uptake of smoke free tobacco products among the adult population. This has left adult smokers with little or no option at all on how they can continue smoking even after they decide to quit cigarettes smoking. For those who smoke, there is no doubt that the best choice a smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine completely, however, quitting cigarettes is not as easy as A,B,C as doing so without an alternative would lead to recidivism or relapse.

Nicotine is highly addictive. It creates physical as well as psychological dependence, and that’s why it’s so hard to quit. Very few people are able to quit on the first try. According to the American Cancer Society, most people relapse many times before they quit smoking. That why making people quit smoking in the absence of an alternative that is less harmful and smoke free could be detrimental.

According to avaible data, in any given year, roughly one out of every 10 people who smoke cigarettes will quit. This means nine out of 10 women and men will continue to smoke cigarettes and year in year out, the world will continue to experience devastating health effects related with tobacco smoking.

In the absence of alternative means to satisfy the craving and addiction associated with smoking nicotine and tobacco, efforts to curb smoking will continue hitting a brick wall. It should also be known that what actually causes tobacco related health complications is not the Nicotine but combustion or burning tobacco. The combustion of tobacco results in the formation of smoke (that contains a range of chemical constituents), heat, and ash. The high heat associated with combustion leads to the thermal breakdown of the tobacco when it is burned, resulting in the production of many of the carcinogens found in cigarette smoke.

It is evident that if smoke free tobacco products are introduced on the market, there is likely to be massive reduction in the uptake of combustive cigarettes. A recent independent study conducted for the American Cancer Society shows that cigarettes sales in Japan decreased at an accelerated pace after the introduction of PMI’s leading electrically heated tobacco product in the market in 2015. According to the study, cigarette sales had been declining by around 1.8% per year prior to the introduction, but this accelerated to 9.5% per year following its introduction. The authors of the study concluded it was the introduction of the heated tobacco product which likely reduced cigarette sales in Japan.

Adult smokers need to be allowed to know that better alternatives exist. They need to be able to learn about, and have access to, these alternatives—whichever country they reside in. If adult smokers have access to accurate information about smoke-free alternatives they will have the opportunity to make an informed decision,” Reads the Fact Sheet.

The issue of regulation has also been identified as one of the leading cause towards the poor uptake of smoke free tobacco products in some countries. Tobacco regulations in some countries treat all products that contain tobacco and nicotine the same. This can result in adult smokers being unaware of and/or unable to access smoke-free alternatives, leaving them without the opportunity to make an informed decision. Four in five people across the world agree that change is needed. But factual and non-misleading information is not always readily available. There is no doubt that the best choice a smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine completely.

Due to lack of information and sometimes little trust in smoke free tobacco products, evidence strongly suggests that dual use of e-cigarettes and combustible products continues to be very common. According o the Tobacco Atlas report, the gains for public health in terms of dual use appear to be extremely low or non-existent, as the damage from continuing to smoke even a few cigarettes each day is high. There is also some evidence that under some conditions dual use is more harmful than smoking alone, particularly for the respiratory system.

To sum it up, 74% of nicotine consumers that were interviewed during the Pavaddo survey feel that their views should be considered by policymakers when deciding on tobacco and nicotine regulations. 77% of nicotine consumers feel that their voices have been excluded for too long and that a new approach to regulation is needed to better balance the voices of nicotine consumers and those who don’t consume such products. From this picture, it is evident that there is room for engagement and collaboration between smokers, non smokers, policy makers and companies. The survey found that more than eight in 10 respondents believe that if people and companies work together, they can have a meaningful impact on the biggest issues facing Morden day society.

Comments

comments

Related posts