Efforts to Reduce Cigarette Risks with New Breakthroughs
The high prevalence of smokers in Indonesia has the potential to continue to increase public health problems. To suppress these problems, alternative tobacco products are considered to be a new breakthrough in reducing the number of smokers.
5 Indonesian Artists Died Tragic, Car Accidents Killed The Deputy Chairperson of the Human Compassionate Foundation (Mawas), Dimas Syailendra explained that alternative tobacco products , such as heated tobacco products, electric cigarettes, and snus, apply the concept of risk reduction (harm reduction) . Based on a number of research results both from within and outside the country, this product is up to 90-95% lower risk than cigarettes.
One of them is a research conducted by the executive body of the Department of Health and Social Services in the UK, Public Health England entitled "Evidence Review of E-Cigarettes and Heated Tobacco Product 2018". The results of this scientific study stated that the risk profile of alternative tobacco products was 95% lower than cigarettes.
"Supported research as evidence that illustrates how low the risk is, it is clear that this is a good for public health," said Dimas.
In February 2021, Public Health England also published its seventh independent report summarizing the latest evidence on e-cigarettes. In 2020, 27.2% of people used e-cigarettes as an aid to smoking cessation within 12 months compared to 15.5% of people taking nicotine therapy, and 4.4% taking the drug varenicline.
Dimas believes that research results that support risk reduction are in line with Mawas' mission, which is to build public awareness of potential risks, one of which is health. Therefore, the presence of alternative tobacco products can be maximized to reduce the prevalence of smokers.
"I think there are products with a much lower risk than cigarettes, of course it will be better. Smart society who are aware of risks will increasingly be formed to create a better nation," concluded Dimas.
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| Efforts to Reduce Cigarette Risks (Credit : Pixabay) |