A Smoke Free Sweden report has been published to detail how the country is very close to being classed as a smoke free country.
This report really needs to be seen by the WHO (World Health Organisation) and any of the delegates attending COP10 as being an example of what progressive tobacco harm reduction can actually achieve!
In Sweden the smoking rate has dropped to 5.6%. To become a “smoke-free” country – the smoking rate needs to be 5% or less. Sweden is on track to become the first smoke free country in the list of WHO member states. The WVA (World Vapers’ Alliance) picked this up in their “Beat Smoking Like the Swedes” report in March.
For instance in the UK we are aiming to achieve this goal by 2030. However a report from Cancer Research UK said we would miss this. Thankfully new actions from the UK government including campaigns to promote vaping to aid smokers to quit and also incentives such as the “Swap to stop” programme – could get us nearer to reaching the target again.
But other countries with less progressive harm reduction policies could really learn from this Smoke Free Sweden report of how offering smoker’s viable, safer alternatives would help to save lives. Also this provides proof of outcomes of policy decisions.
The blend of Sweden’s tobacco control and harm reduction policies are examined and there are even predictions for other countries if they followed the same policies.
Basically overall the nicotine use is Sweden is similar to the EU average, however the methods of consumption vary massively.
Tobacco smoking in Sweden is 5.6% which when compared to the EU average of 23% shows a huge achievement!
Also the smoking related death rates for all causes are lower in Sweden than the EU average.
The chart below is important as it shows the relative harms of different methods of nicotine consumption. Cigarettes for instance are 100% and vaping is 5%.
Recommendations
Throughout the Smoke Free Sweden report are small “recommendation” panels – giving an insight into how other countries can achieve the smoke free goal. I have quoted these below…
·As in Sweden, recognise the fundamental differentiation between combustible and non-combustible forms of tobacco and nicotine. Advocate for risk-proportionate regulations to incentivise adult smokers to quit or switch to less harmful smoke-free products.
·As an elaboration of harm reduction strategies referred to in the FCTC Article 1(d), advocate for Sweden to be the subject of a country case study by WHO and Member States. Where appropriate, replicate Sweden’s integrated approach to tobacco control, complemented by harm reduction strategies and products.
·Develop sources of data and mechanisms to assess the health impact of risk-proportionate policies, such as those employed in Sweden. Those mechanisms should include measuring the effectiveness of policies applicable to pricing, labelling, taxation, flavours, nicotine levels, and health messaging.
·Consider funded research in LMICs (Low and Middle Income Countries), to identify optimal policy responses, including the Swedish model, to support cessation and improved access, affordability and acceptance of tobacco harm reduction products.
·Undertake prospective and retrospective simulation modelling on a multi-national, multi-disciplinary basis, to estimate and better understand the benefits of harm reduction strategies in terms of life years saved, and avoidance of premature tobacco-related deaths and disability-adjusted life years. This is a galvanising force in public health, as was shown during the Covid pandemic.
·In support of the FCTC COP 10, promote engagement with consumers and a whole-of society approach to address the tobacco epidemic, including conducting consumer behaviour studies. Leverage Swedish consumer insights to support bringing an end to smoking in other countries.
·Calling on all stakeholders in tobacco control and harm reduction to affirm and support the United Nations Political Declaration of the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (2011) calling for a ‘whole-of-government’ and ‘whole-of-society’ effort. In addition, to “recognise that the rising prevalence, morbidity and mortality of non-communicable diseases worldwide can be largely prevented and controlled through collective and multi-sectoral action by all Member States and other relevant stakeholders at local, national, regional, and global levels, and by raising the priority accorded to non-communicable diseases in development cooperation by enhancing such cooperation in this regard”.
Predictions
As mentioned above, various predictions were made for other countries based on them adopting the policies of Sweden when it comes to tobacco harm reduction.
Again I won’t go into detail but a few highlights are below.
The UK could avoid 200,000 deaths from 2012 to 2052 if all adult smokers were to switch to vapes.
The USA could avoid 1.8 million deaths if all adult smokers switched to vapes from 2103 and 2060. Those numbers are huge.
Australia has been in the news a lot for restricting vapes to a prescription only model. The document predicts that 104,200 deaths could be avoided if all adult smokers switched to vapes between 2017 and 2080. The country has a very low vaping rate due to the heavy restrictions.
These predictions show huge impacts on the quality of life if countries swapped smoking for vaping.