- New tobacco products pose health risks
- Industry’s harm reduction strategies discredited
- Experts warn against novel nicotine products
The tobacco industry’s promotion of novel products, such as vapes, heated tobacco products (HTPs), snus, and oral nicotine pouches, as safer alternatives has been discredited. These items, marketed under the guise of “Tobacco Harm Reduction” (THR) strategies, have been found to carry significant health risks. For instance, snus contains harmful substances, including heavy metals and tobacco-specific nitrosamines, which can damage the cardiovascular system. A study by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health revealed that frequent snus users face a threefold increase in throat cancer risk and a twofold increase in pancreatic cancer risk.
The industry’s history of introducing supposedly safer products dates back to the 1940s, with filtered cigarettes falsely claimed to be less harmful. Despite these claims, a rise in lung cancer cases was observed. Similarly, “reduced carcinogen” cigarettes and products that heat rather than burn tobacco have been found to be neither safe nor effective in reducing harm.
Current evidence indicates that novel tobacco and nicotine products can serve as gateways to nicotine addiction, particularly among youth. A review of 189 studies concluded that non-smoking youths who use e-cigarettes are significantly more likely to start smoking traditional cigarettes.
Health experts emphasize that there are no safe nicotine products. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm the developing brain during adolescence. The public is urged to remain cautious of the tobacco industry’s marketing tactics and to recognize that all forms of tobacco use carry inherent health risks.
