About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

World's First Public Health Treaty Focus on Tobacco Use

by Julia Samuel on November 11, 2016 at 11:06 PM
Font : A-A+

World's First Public Health Treaty Focus on Tobacco Use

The seventh Conference of the Parties (CoP7) of the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) -- the world's first public health treaty -- kicked off with a coalition of experts seeking a focus on policy for new nicotine products like e-cigarettes.

The FCTC entered into force in 2005 and establishes requirements and recommendations for reducing demand-supply of tobacco products to reduce preventable diseases and premature death caused by tobacco use. As many as 180 countries are now parties to the convention.

Advertisement


Slated to run till November 12, CoP7 is expected to play a crucial role in shaping global policy in the field of tobacco harm reduction.

Ahead of the conference, a coalition of top tobacco harm-reduction experts warned that "one in two life-long smokers will die prematurely from a smoking-related disease".
Advertisement

The coalition, established to provide balanced, evidence-based information on harm reduction, observed that "if current smoking patterns and trends continue, a billion people might die from smoking-related diseases in the 21st century".

"Despite the availability of smoking-cessation medications, many smokers do not want to try them. Of those who use them, the majority either fail or relapse within a year," the coalition pointed out in a Mission Statement.

It explains how "public health experts have recommended that smokers be encouraged... to switch completely to less harmful substitutes".

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified harm-reduction strategies as a core principle of tobacco control, and recently stated: "If the great majority of tobacco smokers who are unable or unwilling to quit would switch... to using an alternative source of nicotine with lower health risks... this would represent a significant contemporary public health benefit."

According to the Mission Statement, there are new technologies that comply with this principle. One such is the "electronic cigarette" -- or, as WHO calls it, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, ENDS -- which delivers nicotine without burning tobacco. The vapor from e-cigarettes and personal vaporisers contains very low levels of potentially-harmful chemicals".

According to the experts, Public Health England recently concluded vaping is at least 95 percent safer than smoking and acknowledged that e-cigarettes can be an effective aid to quitting smoking.

The experts said they support "government policies that seek to remove barriers to the availability of better, safer, non-combustible nicotine delivery products, with appropriate quality standards and regulations".

They added that disproportionate restrictions -- regulation of e-cigarettes as medical products, restrictions similar to tobacco cigarettes, advertising bans -- will make such products expensive and create misconceptions that they are as harmful as smoking.



Source: IANS
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Reading

Latest Lifestyle News

Lose Weight for Your Heart's Sake
Is losing weight good for your heart? Yes,following an intensive behavioral weight loss program and making healthy lifestyle changes can help you lose weight and boost heart health
Prejuvenation can Help You Say Goodbye to Aging Skin
Prejuvenation could be the new skincare trend for anti-aging. Let's stay prejuvenated to stay young forever.
Walk a Mile to Get Rid of Blood Clots
Want to prevent blood clots? Then, start walking a mile for just 15 minutes every day to keep Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) at bay.
 Choosing The Right Shoe Can Keep You Healthy
An expert emphasizes the importance of choosing the right footwear for a healthy life and shares insights on selecting the right shoes for optimal overall well-being.
Power of Parental Bonds: Strong Relationships Linked to Better Health for Young Adults!
Strong parental relationships improve long-term health outcomes in adolescents, according to a new study.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

World's First Public Health Treaty Focus on Tobacco Use Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests