New Global Report: Smoking Causes More Deaths Than Covid-19 – Every Year!

The latest report from The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2024 highlights the global smoking epidemic, which claims over 8.9 million lives annually. Described as an urgent public health challenge, smoking remains a leading cause of non-communicable diseases (NCD), particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

What Is Tobacco Harm Reduction?

Vaping Proven Effective for Smoking Cessation

A Global Challenge

The Way Forward

Tobacco Harm Reduction Can Save Millions of Lives

Despite decades of tobacco control policies, smoking continues to pose a severe health threat. The report emphasises the importance of Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) as a key strategy to save lives and mitigate smoking-related harm.

“The report highlights something most politicians and authorities seem to ignore—that prohibition doesn’t work,” says Markus Lindblad, Head of Communications at Northerner.

“ According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 7 million people have died from Covid-19 globally. While staggering, this number is far fewer than the nearly 9 million who die every year due to smoking. Why don’t WHO and national health authorities act as decisively against this threat? Why do they persist with prohibition policies that clearly don’t work? ”

– Markus Lindblad, Head of Communications at Northerner

What Is Tobacco Harm Reduction?

Tobacco Harm Reduction—or harm minimisation—refers to providing safer alternatives for nicotine consumption to reduce the health risks associated with cigarettes and other combustible tobacco. Safer Nicotine Products (SNP)—such as vapes, snus, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco products—are designed to significantly lower the toxic effects of smoking. These non-combustible products are considered up to 95% less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

“It clearly works,” Lindblad asserts. “Just look at Sweden, with its long tradition of snus and nicotine pouches, where smoking rates have dropped to just over 5%, compared to the European average of 25%.”

Vaping Proven Effective for Smoking Cessation

Scientific studies cited in the report show that SNPs hold great potential to reduce smoking-related deaths. For example, vapes have proven more effective for smoking cessation than traditional Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).

A Global Challenge

Despite these successes, tobacco harm reduction faces significant barriers. Regulations vary widely between countries, and some governments ban SNPs despite their potential health benefits. Additionally, the illicit market for nicotine products poses a substantial challenge, undermining safety standards.

“We’re seeing more governments banning flavoured products—Spain is the latest to propose such a move,” Lindblad points out. “The more countries that follow this path, the greater the risk of widespread prohibitions in the future. That could have devastating consequences for public health. Bans don’t stop people from using what they want; they only fuel the black market.”

The Way Forward

The report underscores the importance of making SNPs accessible, affordable, and acceptable worldwide. Accelerating the transition away from cigarettes requires collaboration between public health authorities and industry. Policies promoting innovation and competition can pave the way for a faster shift to a smoke-free future.

“ You need to give people something they actually want if you want them to quit smoking. The more options smokers have, the more likely they are to try these products, find one that works for them, and quit smoking altogether. This report confirms that this is the only way to end this ongoing epidemic. ”

– Markus Lindblad, Head of Communications at Northerner

Tobacco Harm Reduction Can Save Millions of Lives

The global shift toward tobacco harm reduction has the potential not only to change how we view smoking but also to save millions of lives. With the right strategies, we can move closer to a future where cigarettes are a thing of the past and public health truly takes priority.

Jan Yildiz Published 2024-12-04