The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is denouncing the widespread misinformation surrounding tobacco harm reduction as biased propaganda perpetuated by “certain factions” within the tobacco control community.
These factions refuse to accept the proven role of reduced-risk products in helping people quit smoking, thereby undermining public health efforts.
Recent commentary and reports have highlighted a disturbing trend of disinformation about safer nicotine products, according to an emailed CAPHRA press release.
“It is spread by those who are ideologically opposed to harm reduction strategies, despite mounting evidence that safer nicotine products (SNPs) can significantly reduce smoking rates and associated health risks,” said Nancy Loucas, executive coordinator of CAPHRA. “The quantity and depth of this campaign makes it clear that certain factions within the tobacco control community are more interested in maintaining their prohibitionist stance than in embracing evidence-based harm reduction strategies that can save lives.”
Studies have consistently shown that vaping and other SNPs are far less harmful than smoking combustible tobacco.
Furthermore, countries that have adopted harm reduction strategies, such as the UK and New Zealand, have seen significant declines in smoking rates.
“The refusal to acknowledge the benefits of SNPs is not just misguided; it is dangerous. By spreading disinformation, these groups are effectively discouraging people who smoke from switching to less harmful alternatives, thereby perpetuating the smoking epidemic,” said Loucas.
CAPHRA is calling on governments and public health bodies to promote accurate information, ensure that public health messaging about SNPs is based on the best available scientific evidence, and embrace harm reduction strategies as a key component of tobacco control policies.