A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights Sweden's success in becoming smoke-free with the help of less harmful cigarette alternatives.

The WHO's global report on trends in tobacco use 2002-2030, released today, shows that Sweden will have by far the lowest smoking rates in Europe in 2030 - along with the UK and Iceland, which also have progressive policies on modern nicotine products. Other countries on the continent will have smoking rates that are up to four times higher than Sweden's.

Worryingly, there has been a decline in the number of countries on track to meet the WHO's smoking reduction targets, the report concludes. Tobacco harm reduction experts are now urging politicians around the world to follow Sweden's roadmap to end deadly cigarettes forever.

Dr. Delon Human, President of Health Diplomats and leader of the Smoke Free Sweden movement, comments:

- The latest official WHO figures are clear confirmation that reduced-risk alternatives, such as oral pouches and vapes, are helping adult smokers kick the deadly habit. Vapers and pouches offer a "fire exit" away from toxic combustible cigarettes and are key to saving millions of lives worldwide.

Sweden is now within touching distance of the WHO's target for smoking frequency with which a country can officially declare itself smoke-free. It will be the first developed nation in the world to achieve this, thanks to policies that have made alternative nicotine products acceptable, accessible and affordable to adult smokers.

The public health benefits are remarkable. Compared to the rest of the EU, Sweden has 44 % fewer tobacco-related deaths, a cancer rate that is 41 % lower and 38 % fewer deaths attributable to any cancer.

Today's WHO report estimates that by 2025 the UK will have reduced its smoking rate by 48 % since 2010. Its progressive policies include the government's 'swap to stop' scheme, where smokers are given free vapes to help them quit. The rapid decline in smoking in Iceland has also been attributed to increased use of vapes.

Dr. Delon Human continues to comment on the report:

- Today's report underlines the importance of giving smokers access to less harmful alternatives. As more countries clearly fail to meet WHO's smoking reduction targets, the message couldn't be simpler: follow the science and act on the evidence that shows alternative nicotine products are the key to a smoke-free future. The WHO report comes less than a week after a new Cochrane review again found that e-cigarettes with nicotine are more effective in helping people quit smoking than conventional nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).

Source: https://smokefreesweden.org