Nicotine reduction strategy:

Time: 14:15 - 14:30

Date: Thursday 3rd December

This presentation will describe: 1) the need to “devaluing” combusted products to expedite quitting smoking or if needed, facilitate the uptake of less harmful nicotine-containing products (e.g., electronic cigarettes; 2) the importance of regulating less harmful nicotine products, and 3) the need to develop more effective nicotine replacement therapies.   The presentation will be framed in the context of the continuum of risk of nicotine-containing products.  To date, too little attention has been paid to how to alter the most deadly and addictive tobacco product, cigarettes, to reduce their use. Devaluing the combusted products could include reducing their appeal (e.g., eliminating characterizing flavors, sugars) and/or addictiveness (e.g., reducing nicotine in cigarettes).   This approach would facilitate the shift towards harm reduction products among smoker unwilling or unable to quit nicotine.  However, attention needs to be paid to the concerns associated with harm reduction products, particularly e-cigarettes.  These concerns include addicting youth to nicotine, serving as a gateway to combusted products and dissuading smokers from quitting nicotine products altogether.  Potential ways to allay these concerns surround e-cigarettes involve establishing product standards, reducing access and promotion to youth and more proactively discussing and providing treatments for the cessation of all nicotine containing products.  Finding more effective treatments for smoking and for cessation of e-cigarette use is clearly needed to shift smokers down to the products with the lowest risk and optimally to nicotine abstinence.


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