Harm reduction items, smoking decline linked

Harm reduction products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches are speeding up the decline in smoking rates in countries where they are accepted, according to the World Vapers Alliance (WVA).

The WVA said the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which marks its 20th anniversary in 2025, should consider these harm reduction tools to help smokers quit.

“By doing so, we can accelerate the decline in smoking rates and significantly reduce the burden of smoking-related diseases on our health care systems and society as a whole,” WVA said in a report titled “Rethinking Tobacco Control: 20 Harm-Reduction Lessons the FCTC Should Take Note Of.”

The group said these harm reduction tools are highly effective in helping smokers quit.

E-cigarettes are at least 95 percent less harmful than traditional cigarettes, a finding supported by Public Health England.

Less daunting option

Human biomarker studies demonstrate the harm-reduction potential of these smoke-free alternatives, the WVA said. “Even partial switching to less harmful alternatives can be a step toward complete smoking cessation. This gradual approach can be less daunting for some smokers,” the group said.

Scientific studies show the primary cause of smoking-related diseases is the combustion of tobacco, which releases thousands of toxic chemicals. Smoke-free nicotine products eliminate combustion, thus reducing exposure to harmful substances.

Nicotine is not the cause of primary harm from smoking; tar and combustion are. Knowing this distinction is crucial for effective harm reduction.

“Understanding the varying levels of risk among nicotine products is essential for effective policy. Nicotine pouches, for instance, sit furthest away from cigarettes on the relative risk scale,” the WVA said.