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. This presentation occurred during the recent 7th Summit on “Tobacco Harm Reduction: Novel Products, Research & Policy,” organized and held virtually by SCOHRE.
The board members emphasized that awareness and informed decision-making are crucial in addressing smoking and its impacts. They explained that providing smokers with access to necessary information can significantly aid them in making informed choices.
Additionally, the board proposed that bioethics and human rights be central to policy decisions concerning nicotine products. They highlighted the importance of informed consent and consumer empowerment, aligning with international bioethics protocols, ultimately reinforcing the idea that people matter.
Health literacy for both health professionals and smokers was also highlighted as essential for enhancing the effectiveness of tobacco control efforts and positively impacting public health. The board noted that cigarette smoking is a global challenge affecting 1.3 billion people and results in eight million deaths each year from smoking-related diseases.
To effectively combat smoking, the board members advocated for sharing experiences and best practices between countries. They argued that implementing modern, comprehensive public health strategies requires collaboration across 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). They urged international collaboration among experts using platforms like SCOHRE to promote a more pragmatic approach from the World Health Organization (WHO), grounded in emerging scientific evidence.
Another key proposition focused on prevention, emphasizing the importance of preventing the initiation of smoking and reducing exposure to secondhand smoke. The board suggested that prevention measures should include policy-level actions such as increasing tobacco product taxation, enforcing stricter regulations on the purchase and sale of tobacco, and imposing advertising restrictions alongside mandatory health warnings on packaging. They stressed that prevention efforts must also take place in homes, schools, and communities.
Furthermore, the board called for a robust regulatory framework to ensure fairness, suggesting that regulations treat nicotine products in a risk-proportionate manner. They proposed that tax laws should similarly reflect risk levels and that significant regulatory efforts should empower consumers to make informed decisions.