Tobacco Harm Reduction

There is a continuum of risk for nicotine products. Smoking cigarette is the deadliest, reducing the lifespan of the average smoker by ten years. The long-term health consequences of vaping or using nicotine pouches are unknown but are much lower than smoking. Nicotine, by itself is not harmless, and certainly addictive. For people who have exceptional difficulty quitting. nicotine harm reduction can reduce the severity of tobacco related disease.

Vaping can be a safe and effective way to quit smoking, especially when used in conjunction with counseling. A recent Cochrane review shows that vaping can be more effective than nicotine replacement therapy.

There are thousands of that deliver nicotine as vape, heated tobacco, and pouches. 15% of products sold are in the USA have been reviewed by the FDA. All tobacco products are harmful and thus they are not “approved”. They can, however, be approved for sale if the product met FDA’s standards for being “appropriate for the protection of public health.” This includes evaluating both risks and benefits to the entire population — users and non-users. The remainder are not authorized for sale. If you are considering using a nicotine product look to the list of FDA authorized products.

The public debate about harm reduction is focused on young people, who should avoid starting any nicotine product. All of the nicotine products are addictive, expensive, and have significant health risks.