By Providence Ayanfeoluwa

The International Scientific Association of Independent Experts in Smoking Control and Harm Reduction (SCOHRE) has presented 10 proposals aimed at combating the smoking epidemic and its harmful effects. The board members of the association made the presentation in the last session of the recently concluded 7th Summit on “Tobacco Harm Reduction: Novel Products, Research & Policy” organised and held virtually by SCOHRE.

They proposed that awareness and informed decisions are important in combating smoking and its effects, explaining that having access to the necessary information and using it in their decision-making process can help smokers make informed choices.

The board also proposed bioethics and human rights to be considered. They stated that human rights should be central to policy decisions on nicotine products, adding that international bioethics protocols emphasise the importance of informed consent and consumer empowerment, which ultimately shows that people matter.

According to the proposal presented by the board members of SCOHRE, health literacy for both health professionals and smokers plays a crucial role in enhancing the effectiveness of tobacco control efforts, directly impacting public health. Highlighting the need for networking and collaboration, the board members said that cigarette smoking is a global challenge affecting 1.3 billion people, resulting in eight million deaths each year from smoking-related diseases.

The board is of the view that sharing experiences and best practices between countries can lead to the implementation of modern, comprehensive, and effective public health strategies to combat smoking. “To be realistic and successful, these strategies must include all three levels of prevention: health education, secondary prevention (social and fiscal policy, screening), and tertiary prevention (limiting disease complications, harm reduction, and improving patients’ quality of life). International collaboration among experts using platforms like SCOHRE should aim to create a unified and strong stance that promotes a shift in the World Health Organisation, WHO’s approach to a more pragmatic one, grounded in emerging scientific evidence.” Said the board.

Another proposition of the board is prevention. They explained that preventing the initiation of smoking and reducing exposure to smoke is central to combating the smoking epidemic.

For instance, they said that prevention can take the form of policy-level measures, such as increasing tobacco product taxation, enforcing stricter regulations on who can purchase tobacco, controlling where and how these products can be sold and used, and imposing advertising restrictions alongside mandatory health warnings on packaging.

They also said that prevention efforts must also occur at home, in schools, and within communities.

While proposing a robust regulatory framework to ensure fairness, the board members also said regulations should treat nicotine products in a risk-proportionate way. Tax laws should be similarly geared to risk, and there should be significant regulatory efforts to empower consumers to make informed decisions.

It was said that regulations should also be updated regularly to reflect current scientific knowledge and the emergence of new and/or modified products. Furthermore, these laws and regulations should robustly defend consumers from misinformation. Designing an evidence-based and transparent smoking cessation policy is essential to protecting public health, effectively addressing nicotine dependence, and reducing the harmful consequences of smoking.

“Smoking cessation is the most critical and effective intervention in the broader strategy to prevent and reduce smoking-related morbidity and mortality,” they stressed.

“Smoking cessation is arguably the most powerful and cost-effective intervention for the primary and secondary prevention of smoking-related disease, disability, and death, and to effectively address the tobacco pandemic, we must end years of neglect by adopting best practices and implementing systematic approaches to identifying and treating smokers.” The board members then went on to say that by prioritizing cessation efforts, healthcare providers can significantly reduce the long-term health impacts of tobacco use.

Reducing the prevalence of cigarette smoking should be pursued through people’s multiple parallel strategies. They said one of the most effective methods is health-promoting fiscal policy, which involves taxing tobacco and nicotine-containing products based on the principle of ‘less harm, less tax.’
Tobacco harm reduction a mainstream strategy for public health protection. Smoking policies have traditionally focused on prevention and cessation, but recent data has shown that these approaches have not sufficiently reduced smoking rates in many countries. While essential, these strategies alone do not address the needs of those unable to quit.

Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) offers scientifically backed, lower-risk alternatives to cigarettes that can significantly reduce the health burden of smoking.