The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2024: A Situation Report
A Global Perspective uses the latest evidence and new data projections to report on the current global THR situation and its potential to rapidly reduce the burden of disease and mortality associated with risky tobacco use. Measuring changes in SNP uptake, policy and regulation, it considers how these factors interrelate to support or undermine progress. Profiles for Norway, Aotearoa New Zealand, Japan, and the UK are available. A broader regional focus is applied to Latin America and Eastern Europe and Central Asia | GSTHR, UK

Over 10 percent of deaths in Wales due to smoking
New analysis from Public Health Wales shows that were an average of 3,845 deaths in Wales in 2022 were due to smoking in Wales every year between 2020 and 2022: more than one in ten of all deaths amongst those over 35 | Public Health Wales, UK

Smokers urged to swap cigarettes for vapes in world first scheme (2023)
One million smokers will be encouraged to swap cigarettes for vapes under a pioneering new ‘swap to stop’ scheme designed to improve the health of the nation and cut smoking rates. As part of the world-first national scheme, almost 1 in 5 of all smokers in England will be provided with a vape starter kit alongside behavioural support to help them quit the habit as part of a series of new measures to help the government meet its ambition of being smokefree by 2030 – reducing smoking rates to 5% or less. Local authorities will be invited to take part in the scheme later this year and each will design a scheme which suits its needs, including deciding which populations to prioritise | DHSC, UK

The Khan review: making smoking obsolete (2022)
Independent review by Dr Javed Khan OBE into the government’s ambition to make England smokefree by 2030 | OHID, UK

Reaching Out: Tobacco control and stop smoking services in local authorities in England (2021)
This report presents findings from the eighth annual ASH/CRUK survey of tobacco control leads in local authorities in England. It explores both the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and current efforts to reduce the inequalities that define the smoking epidemic in England | ASH, UK

Fighting the Last War: The WHO and International Tobacco Control (2021)
The latest report from K∙A∙C’s Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR) argues that “tobacco control policy is frozen in time” while “innovative non-combustible nicotine technology and supporting evidence have moved forwards”. The status quo keeps adult smokers smoking rather than switching to safer nicotine, favouring the tobacco industry | KAC, UK

NICE and PHE publish comprehensive draft guideline to tackle the health burden of smoking (2021)
Healthcare staff should give clear and up-to-date information on e-cigarettes to people who are interested in using them to stop smoking, according to draft NICE guideline recommendations out for consultation. NICE worked with Public Health England to develop this guideline | NICE, UK

Tobacco Harm Reduction: A Burning Issue for Asia (2021)
Sixty per cent of the world’s smokers live in this region and almost half the global deaths from smoking occur here. Asia is also home to nine in every ten users of smokeless tobacco, leading to high rates of oral cancer. In a number of countries, public health is severely undermined where governments either control or have a significant stake in domestic tobacco companies. New solutions are needed to tackle the public health threat from smoking and tobacco use – but safer nicotine products are banned in many countries. Would tobacco harm reduction improve public health in Asia? And if so – what are the obstacles that stand in its way? | GSTHR, UK

Vaping in England: evidence update February 2021
Annual update of Public Health England’s e-cigarette evidence review by leading independent tobacco experts. This report covers vaping for smoking cessation | PHE, UK

Burning Issues: The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2020
The central theme of this report, enshrined in many international treaties, is the universal right to health, including for those who for whatever reason continue to engage in risky behaviours. Harm reduction refers to a range of pragmatic policies, regulations and actions which either reduce health risks by providing safer forms of products or substances, or encourage less risky behaviours. Harm reduction does not focus primarily on the eradication of products or behaviours | KAC, UK

Government missing opportunity with e-cigarettes, 2018
The Science and Technology Committee publishes its Report, E-cigarettes (PDF). The Report reviews the current evidence base on the harmfulness of e-cigarettes compared to conventional cigarettes and looks at the current policies on e-cigarettes, including in NHS mental health units and in prisons. The Committee concludes that e-cigarettes should not be treated in the same way as conventional cigarettes | Parliament.uk, UK

E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products: evidence review, 2018
Annual update of Public Health England’s e-cigarette evidence review by leading independent tobacco experts | PHE, UK

Towards a smoke-free generation: tobacco control plan for England, 2017
Outlining plans to reduce smoking in England, with the aim of creating a smoke-free generation | DoH, UK

Cost of smoking to the NHS in England: 2015
Data on the cost of smoking to the NHS to support the development of the new Tobacco Control Plan for England | PHE, UK

Impact assessment: E-cigarettes: a developing public health consensus, 2016
Joint statement on e-cigarettes by Public Health England and other UK public health organisations | PHE, UK

Nicotine without smoke: Tobacco harm reduction, 2016
A new report released today from the Royal College of Physicians, ‘Nicotine without smoke: tobacco harm reduction’ concludes that e-cigarettes are likely to be beneficial to UK public health. Smokers can therefore be reassured and encouraged to use them, and the public can be reassured that e-cigarettes are much safer than smoking | RCP, UK

The Stolen years: how smoking disproportionately harms those with mental health conditions
People with mental health conditions die on average 10-20 years earlier than the general population and smoking is the single largest factor in this shocking difference. Around one third of adult tobacco consumption is by people with a current mental health condition with smoking rates more than double that of the general population | ASH, UK

Smokeless tobacco and public health – a global perspective (Global Tobacco Surveillance System Data), 2014
A new report from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Smokeless Tobacco and Public Health: A Global Perspective, provides a snapshot of the current science on smokeless tobacco (ST) use, characteristics of smokeless tobacco products, and policy strategies. The report also identifies research gaps and makes recommendations around enhancing research, surveillance, and capacity building for policy impact | Center for Disease Control, USA