Tobacco smokers struggling to quit have options, says group

Adult tobacco smokers who wish to quit the vice should be given more alternatives to help in their gradual decrease of nicotine consumption, a research group said on Thursday.

In a media forum, ASCRA Consulting Inc.’s project coordinator Joze Songsong introduced the concept of Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) which would provide options or safer nicotine products —like e-cigarettes or vaping products, heated tobacco products, snus and US smokeless —and nicotine replacement therapy such as patches, gums, lozenges, sprays, and inhalers, for tobacco users who are struggling to quit smoking.

He explained that millions of Filipinos need to be protected from the dangers of smoking, but some of them are really in need of support in terms of smoking cessation.

“Through Tobacco Harm Reduction, what we want to do is to empathize with those adult smokers who can't immediately quit because either they use nicotine as a way to alleviate the different social circumstances that force them into this particular lifestyle or habit,” Songsong said.

“What we want to do is not to advocate for a specific type of cure for these Filipino smokers but to equip them with the right information and the tools to make those informed decisions because these Filipino smokers have the right to informed choices and have the right to make choices for their own health,” he added.

Results of the 2021 Global Adult Tobacco Survey showed that the prevalence of current tobacco use and smoking among Filipinos aged 15 and above decreased in 2021 to 19.5% of the population or 15.1 million.

The survey also showed that the quit rate among past 12-month smokers (or those who have reported smoking within the last 12 months) in the country decreased from 4.5% in 2009 to 3.9% in 2021.

However, the number of adult smokers thinking of quitting because of health warnings increased from 37.4% in 2009 to 43.7% in 2021.

Dr. Ehsan Latif, Senior Vice President of Foundation for Smoke-free World, said that the Philippines should learn from the progress of other countries like Japan and United Kingdom, which implement harm reduction methods.

“We can't expect people to quit smoking in just a day. The challenge is how we interact with the private sector. It’s not dependent on one sect

The Department of Health has been persistently warning Filipinos about the harmful effects of smoke and emissions from tobacco products, vapor products, and heated tobacco products.

It could be recalled that the controversial vape bill lapsed into law in 2022, providing regulations on the importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution, use, and communication of vape products and novel tobacco products.—LDF, GMA Integrated News