STOCKHOLM, March 08, 2024 – Leading international public Health experts have raised concerns over the spread of “rampant and reckless” misinformation about alternative nicotine products in Central Asia, stating that such misinformation is endangering lives.
Recent reports from Uzbekistan’s state media have made baseless claims that “vaping contains thousands of chemicals… and is more harmful than smoking,” following a ban on vaping products in neighboring Kazakhstan. Despite an independent expert report demonstrating that 165,000 lives could be saved in Kazakhstan, the ban has been implemented, affecting the country’s 3.2 million smokers. This decision has been mirrored in Kyrgyzstan and is now gaining traction in Uzbekistan, where there are more than 3 million smokers and 2 million naswar users.
The tobacco harm reduction movement, Smoke Free Sweden, has criticized these claims, citing evidence from countries such as the UK, where organizations like the National Health Service and ASH UK have supported the use of alternative nicotine products. Sweden itself has successfully reduced smoking rates by allowing smokers to switch to alternatives, with an official smoking rate of 5.6% – on the verge of being declared ‘smoke free.’
Dr. Delon Human, leader of the Smoke Free Sweden movement, stated that campaigns against vaping and nicotine pouches are essentially promoting smoking and are on the rise in Central Asia. He emphasized that prohibitions on less risky nicotine products are detrimental to public health and may result in unnecessary premature deaths.
Countries like Japan, New Zealand, Canada, and Sweden have shown that reduced-risk products can save lives by providing smokers with safer alternatives to cigarettes. Smoke Free Sweden urges authorities in Uzbekistan and Central Asia to reject harmful prohibitions and consider the evidence supporting the use of alternative nicotine products.
Smoke Free Sweden, led by Health Diplomats, is a global network of public health experts dedicated to finding solutions to global health challenges. Sweden is on track to become the first ‘smoke-free’ European country with a smoking rate below 5%, attributed to its open approach to alternative products.
For more information on Sweden’s successful journey towards becoming a smoke-free nation, visit www.smokefreesweden.org.
###Historic Background:
Sweden’s approach to reducing smoking rates through alternative nicotine products has led the country to achieve remarkable health outcomes, with significantly fewer tobacco-related deaths and lower cancer rates compared to the rest of Europe. This success has positioned Sweden as a pioneer in tobacco harm reduction and serves as a model for other countries looking to combat smoking-related health issues.
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