Current challenges that governments face in smoking control
There is a growing trend to adopt Harm Reduction Strategies as a complimentary strategy to smoking cessation and smoking prevention that undoubtedly remain the most impactful, cost-effective interventions in medicine. However, due to increasing number of smokers (1.3 billion people worldwide use tobacco products) there is pressure to revisit strategies and evaluate Tobacco Harm Reduction as another pilar of public health strategies. The range between the WHO strategy that rejects all THR products and unrestricted adoption of THR products is vast. THR advocates believe that governments should adopt a pragmatic public health perspective. Should harm reduction strategies be encouraged in smokers who made many efforts but failed to quit? Issues that need to be considered are regulatory framework, taxation, promotion etc. The end goal remains a “smoke free world”.
Moderator: David T. Sweanor J.D.
Panelists:
- Vassilis Kontozamanis – Greece
- Karl E. Lund – Norway
- Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh – Malaysia
- Michael G. Toumbis – Cyprus
Speakers
