Recent media coverage of a report examining nicotine’s effects on the heart and blood vessels has renewed debate about cardiovascular risk and nicotine regulation. In response, experts contributing to the UK Science Media Centre (SMC) have provided important clarification that adds nuance often missing from public discussion. Their commentary reinforces a central principle in tobacco…
As nicotine markets continue to evolve, regulators are increasingly challenged to design policies that protect young people while also reflecting the growing body of evidence on relative risk among nicotine products. A new peer-reviewed study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research adds important insight into how non-combustible nicotine products are used and perceived, and what…
Nicotine does have measurable effects on the cardiovascular system. That point is not in dispute. However, treating all nicotine products as equally harmful, regardless of whether they are smoked or smoke-free, is not supported by the balance of current evidence and risks undermining smoking cessation and broader public-health objectives. Recent commentary has renewed attention on…
Awareness and use of oral nicotine pouches are increasing across multiple countries, according to new peer-reviewed research published in BMJ Public Health. While this growth reflects changing nicotine markets and consumer behaviour, the findings also reveal a persistent challenge: greater awareness has not been matched by clear public understanding of relative health risk. This gap…
Public understanding of nicotine products increasingly depends on how science is communicated through mainstream media. Yet, misinformation and oversimplified reporting continue to influence how adults who smoke, regulators, and health professionals interpret the risks of non-combustible nicotine products. These narratives often emerge not from a lack of scientific evidence, but from how research is framed,…
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open provides important insights into the biological effects of nicotine pouches, adding much-needed clinical evidence to an area often dominated by speculation. The findings reaffirm a central message in tobacco harm reduction: while nicotine is addictive, the health risks associated with non-combustible nicotine products are dramatically lower than…
Nicotine has been vilified for decades, often conflated with the devastating health effects of smoking. Yet modern medical research continues to show that nicotine itself is not the cause of smoking-related cancers or cardiovascular disease. Instead, it is the combustion of tobacco, the burning process that releases thousands of toxic chemicals, that drives most smoking-related…
A new peer-reviewed study published in PLOS One provides the most detailed snapshot yet of who uses nicotine pouches in the United Kingdom, what products they choose, and how often they use them. Conducted by researchers from King’s College London, University College London, and Brighton & Sussex Medical School, the study sheds light on a…
A new Cochrane systematic review has examined whether oral nicotine pouches can help people stop smoking, vaping, or using other forms of tobacco. While early evidence is promising in showing lower toxicant exposure, the review concludes that more data is needed to determine their long-term impact on cessation outcomes. What the Review Found The Cochrane…
A new global modeling study by Dr. Derek Yach and Dr. Delon Human projects a future where more than 100 million lives could be saved by 2060, but only if the world embraces tobacco harm reduction (THR) as a central pillar of public health. The Lives Saved Report, released in October 2025 by Global Health…