LIFESTYLE
Philip Morris Points Out Facts about Smoke-Free Alternatives
Rita Khoueiry
27-July-2023
Millions of people around the globe smoke, ignoring the dangerous consequences of this addictive habit. In order to help them quit tobacco and nicotine, reliable information related to smoke-free alternatives should be provided.
Smoke-free alternatives differ from cigarettes in many things. In fact, scientifically substantiated smoke-free products contain nicotine, which is addictive and not risk-free; however, they do not burn nor deliver smoke. That’s what make them different from cigarettes, and can be considered a better alternative for smokers.
Keep reading the article for more facts brought to you by Philip Morris management services – Lebanon.
Why is burning considered a problem?
When you lit a cigarette, some smoke is produced. Many diseases can be appear due to smoking, and the main reason is that cigarette smoke contains high levels of harmful chemicals. In fact, the smoke generated by cigarettes contains more than 6,000 chemicals, 100 of which have been classified as harmful or potentially harmful by public health authorities.
On the other hand, smoke-free products neither burn tobacco nor generate smoke. Therefore, the levels of harmful chemicals generated would be notably reduced compared to cigarettes. The potential to reduce the risk of harm of these products should be scientifically proven on a product-by-product basis. In addition, manufacturing should be under appropriate safety and quality controlled.
Why do smoke-free products contain nicotine?
Alongside taste and habit, adult smokers look for nicotine in alternatives. That’s why smoke-free products deliver nicotine.
Known as an addictive and harmful substance, nicotine is not the main cause of diseases resulting from smoking. Actually, the high levels of detrimental chemicals found in cigarettes are the reason. While it’s one of the reasons people continue to smoke or use nicotine products, it’s been used successfully in cigarette replacement therapies for decades, as a means of helping adult smokers quit tobacco and nicotine altogether.
Some people should use products containing nicotine (e.g. those who do not smoke, do not use nicotine products, face a certain health condition). Children as well should not have access to tobacco and products made from nicotine.
Heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes, also known as e-vapor products or vapes, heat either tobacco or a liquid nicotine solution to create a flavored smokefree aerosol. This aerosol contains a mixture of particles suspended in gas, but unlike smoke, the aerosol does not contain solid particles and contains fewer and significantly reduced average levels of harmful chemicals compared to cigarette smoke. Modern oral smokeless products, such as snus and nicotine pouches are inherently smoke-free; there is no vapor nor smoke, and the nicotine is absorbed orally. These pouches may use tobacco or provide nicotine without tobacco.
What smoke-free products have in common is that they don’t burn tobacco, and therefore they don’t create smoke or ash. These products are not risk-free and provide nicotine which is addictive; however, they offer adult smokers a better alternative to smoking.
Quitting tobacco and nicotine altogether is the best choice for health. Existing tobacco control measures designed to discourage initiation and encourage cessation should continue.
Despite these efforts, millions of people continue to smoke. Science-backed, smoke-free products can play a role in accelerating a decline in smoking by moving adults who would otherwise continue to smoke away from cigarettes. Adult smokers deserve to have accurate information about and access to better alternatives to continued smoking.