Tobacco Asia

8 tobaccoasia Issue 3, 2023 May / June From the Associate Editor © 2023 October Multimedia Co Ltd. TOBACCO ASIA (ISSN 2773-8701) is published bi-monthly by October Multimedia Co Ltd in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Printing and distribution of TOBACCO ASIA is overseen by October Inter Co. Ltd., Interchange 21 Bldg., Room 3221, 32nd Fl., 399 Sukhumvit Road, North Klong Toey, Wattana, Bangkok, 10110 THAILAND. Tel +66 2 660 3789. Fax +66 2 660 3881. E-mail: info@octobermultimedia.com, web: www.tobaccoasia.com. Representation for Tobacco Asia Asia/Middle East/Australasia Southern Europe/Eastern Europe China/Italy/Spain/France October Inter Co. Ltd. Interchange 21 Bldg., Room 3225, 399 Sukhumvit Road 32nd Fl. Bangkok, 10110, Thailand Tel +662 660 3789, Fax +662 660 3881 Contact: Glenn Anthony John Mobile +1 917 843 0000 or +66 818 299 409 gaj@octobermultimedia.com The Americas/Benelux/UK Germany/Scandinavia Switzerland/Austria Cardinal Media LLC 2 Glenfield, Barrington RI 02806 United States Contact: Emerson Leonard Tel +1 917 680 1050 edl@octobermultimedia.com Printing/Distribution overseen by: October Inter Co. Ltd. Interchange 21 Bldg., Room 3225, 399 Sukhumvit Road, 32nd Fl. Bangkok, 10110, Thailand Tel +662 660 3789 Fax +662 660 3881 Published by: October Multimedia Co., Ltd. Printed in Thailand © 2023 October Multimedia Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. Bylined or initialed articles represent the opinion of the author. All articles published in Tobacco Asia or www.tobaccoasia.com are copyrighted. No part of this publication may be reproduced or in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system without written permission. Subscriptions to TOBACCO ASIA magazine Subscription Rates: 1 Year – US$75.00 2 Years – US$145.00 3 Years – US$210.00 For inquiries, contact: malisa@tobaccoasia.com Secure online payment: https://www.tobaccoasia.com/subscribe Nattira Medvedeva Associate Editor Harm reduction is not some new breakthrough revolution. It's been around for ages and people have been using harm re- duction principles in most, if not all, areas of life for the longest time. We just might not have called it "harm reduction", or simply called it something else. It is, after all, reducing any harm that may befall ourselves. The term "harm reduction" started in a health and social context referring to strategies aiming to reduce harm from drug use, protecting people's health, and saving lives. Harm reduction strategies are not limited to just drugs, as we know. They are also used to reduce harm from alcohol and, of course, tobacco. Tobacco harm reduction (THR) strategies may be slightly different than those used in drug or alcohol harm reduction in that they encourage users to turn to less harmful alternatives than combustible cigarettes rather than methods like providing free syringe service programs, drug overdose prevention sites, or promoting responsible drinking. For decades, the tobacco industry has continuously tried to develop less harmful products, from filter and low-tar cigarettes to today's less harmful alternatives like vaporizers, heat-not-burn, snus, etc. But, the fact that the industry is actively involved in developing and producing these products is likely the main factor why WHO is also so ac- tively against accepting THR as a viable option to protect people's health. Fortunately, there are a growing number of success stories of different countries that applied THR strategies which may inspire others to follow in their examples despite WHO's stubborn stance (see our story on p.20). For those who tried alternatives such as vapes or smokeless tobacco products and didn't like them but still want to reduce the harm they may be doing to their health, the devel- opment of low- or even no-nicotine cigarettes may be the answer (see p.30 for more details). Of course, there are also smokers who continue to prefer conventional cigarettes, cigars, and pipes for a range of reasons including personal preference and limited or no access to vapes or smokeless products due to countrywide bans (often inspired by WHO recommendations). This group of smokers should not be ignored, combustible tobacco prod- ucts should continue to be developed for them, and their right to choose to smoke should be accepted without them having to bear the social stigma associated with smokers. Harm Reduction International declares that, "Harm reduction is grounded in justice and human rights. It focuses on positive change and on working with people without judge- ment, coercion, discrimination, or requiring that people stop using drugs as a precondition of support." Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health says on its webpage about harm reduction that it "…encompasses the understanding that traditional law enforcement ap- proaches, or those that require complete abstinence do not decrease demand, use, or negative health consequences of substance use." Very true words that we all can agree on. Strangely enough, though, this concept doesn't seem to carry over to many of those who are in positions that can affect regulatory decisions on tobacco harm reduction and smoking in general.

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