‘‘The global impact of tobacco-related diseases is undeniable. As we stand on the cusp of COP10, it’s essential that we recognize the ‘Right to Health’ as a guiding principle. It’s not just about health; it’s about fundamental human rights.’’ Tobacco consumption claims the lives of over 8 million individuals annually, delivering a staggering blow […]
Tag: Public Health
Science of Tobacco Harm Reduction
In the 40 years since Professor Michael Russell, a South African scholar and specialist in the field of smoking behaviour, pioneered the logic that smokers smoke for nicotine but are killed by tar, the assertion has largely remained incontrovertible despite the opposition to it in some quarters. This logic has served as a pivot for […]
Misinformation About Misinformation
The idea that there was ever a golden age of accurate information, especially about public health, is suspect. By Tyler Cowen February 10, 2022 It is conventional wisdom that misinformation — particularly about Covid and vaccines, and often enabled by social and other media — is worse than it’s ever been. It’s hard to measure misinformation over time. But the premise […]
Need For More Robust Campaign For Tobacco Harm Reduction In Sub-Saharan Africa
Infectious diseases account for the greatest burden of mortality and morbidity in SSA, however, the incidence and prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the region is also on a steady rise. Smoking is an important and a leading cause of preventable mortality due to NCDs as it contributes to a significant number of non-communicable diseases […]
Nigeria Is Crying Out for Vapes That Smokers Can Afford
Uche Olatunji March 30, 2020 To state the obvious, smoking kills. Tobacco smoking is the world’s leading preventable cause of premature death. Here in Nigeria, there are at least 11 million smokers, and despite declining prevalence, a fast-growing population means that the actual number of smokers is on the rise. This is especially […]
False Fears Preventing Smokers From Using E-cigarettes To Quit
Press release Over half of smokers believe nicotine vaping products are equally or more harmful than smoking despite US vaping deaths being caused by substances banned in UK. Public Health England’s (PHE) sixth independent e-cigarette report, commissioned from researchers at King’s College London, is published today (Wednesday 4 March 2020) alongside new PHE advice on […]
Africa’s First Tobacco Harm Reduction Forum – ATHRF
The Africa tobacco harm reduction forum (ATHRF) is a bi- annual convening that brings together key stakeholders involved in efforts to curb conventional cigarette smoking in Africa. The platform draws together actors from governments, civil society, International organizations, legislators, media, academia and national campaigners to take stock of the current state of play on cigarette […]
Vaping Is Still At Least 95% Lower Risk Than Smoking – Debunking a Feeble And Empty Critique
Clive Bates This paper turned up in my weekly search of PubMed. Invalidity of an Oft-Cited Estimate of the Relative Harms of Electronic Cigarettes. Eissenberg T, Bhatnagar A, Chapman S, Jordt SE, Shihadeh A, Soule EK. Am J Public Health. 2020 Feb;110(2):161-162. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2019.305424. The commentary claims to show the “invalidity” of the statements made […]
Global Forum for Nicotine 2020
Global Forum for Nicotine 2020 (GFN20) is the world’s leading event for discussion about safer nicotine products, set to take place in Warsaw during June. This year’s theme for #GFN20 is ‘Nicotine: science, ethics and human rights’, and the conference will examine advances in the science of nicotine, the ethical and moral arguments and the […]
Vaping—Seeking Clarity in a Time of Uncertainty
As of October 28, 2019, 49 states have reported more than 1600 possible cases of severe pulmonary disease related to vaping—the inhalation of a heated, aerosolized solution—to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To date, 34 deaths have been attributed to e-cigarette, or vaping, product use–associated lung injury (EVALI). This has resulted in […]