TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION IN THE 21ST CENTURY – A RESEARCH PAPER

This is hot off the presses from Renée O’Leary and Riccardo Polosa. Dr. Riccardo Polosa was kind enough to give an interview on the last Smoker’s Show.

This research paper may represent the new “manifesto” for THR. It is very comprehensive and yet easy to read also for non experts.

Purpose – This paper aims to overview the need for tobacco harm reduction, the consumer products that facilitate tobacco harm reduction and the barriers to its implementation. The worldwide endemic of tobacco smoking results in the death of over seven million smokers a year. Cigarette quit rates are very low, from 3%–12%, and relapse rates are high, from 75%–80% in the first six months and 30%–40% even after one year of abstinence. In addition, some smokers do not desire to quit. Cigarette substitution in tobacco harm reduction is one strategy that may reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality

There is conclusive evidence that completely substituting e-cigarettes for combustible tobacco cigarettes reduces users’ exposure to numerous toxicants and carcinogens present in combustible tobacco cigarettes. There is substantial evidence that completely switching from regular use of combustible tobacco cigarettes to e-cigarettes results in reduced short-term adverse health outcomes in several organ systems” (p. 11, emphasis in original)

You can read the entire research paper HERE.

You can see the interview with Dr. Polossa on the Smoker’s Show below.

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Author: pbusardo