Facts Must Guide Harm Reduction

Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA, told Planet of the vapes: “Nicotine is not the culprit behind smoking-related disease. The real danger comes from the toxic smoke produced by burning tobacco, not from nicotine itself.

“Decades of misinformation have left many wrongly believing nicotine causes cancer and heart disease, when the science is clear: it is the act of combustion that kills.” 

The white paper explains that nicotine, a mild stimulant also found in tomatoes and potatoes, does not cause cancer or lung disease. While nicotine can lead to dependence, using it in safer forms such as patches, gums, vapes, or pouches carries a fraction of the risk associated with smoking.

“People deserve to know that switching to smoke-free alternatives can dramatically reduce their health risks,” Loucas added. 

CAPHRA’s research reveals that over 60% of people who smoke still mistakenly believe nicotine is the main cause of cancer, a misconception that even confuses some healthcare professionals. This misunderstanding prevents many from switching to far less harmful, smoke-free products. 

“Instead of demonising nicotine, we should be promoting safer alternatives and providing clear, evidence-based information,” Loucas continued. 

The paper also addresses concerns about youth and mental health, noting that current studies have not shown clear evidence of long-term brain damage from nicotine use in teenagers. For many adults, nicotine can help manage stress and improve focus, but the public health message must be about reducing harm, not fuelling fear.

Concluding, Nancy Loucas said: “Society must move beyond outdated dogma and focus on the real issue: the smoke, not the nicotine. Harm reduction saves lives, and people must have access to accurate information and safer alternatives.  

“We urge governments and health agencies to adopt risk-proportionate regulations and to stop perpetuating myths that cost lives.” 

CAPHRA’s message is clear: public health policy must be anchored in facts. As the world moves towards smoke-free nicotine, this shift—if supported by honest education—could save millions of lives. 

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Advocates is a regional alliance of consumer tobacco harm reduction advocacy organisations. It says it is not related to or funded by any commercial interests. It is composed of volunteer consumer advocates from the Asia Pacific Region. 

“We hope putting forward this information would clarify any doubt as to our interests and intentions,” states the organisation. “CAPHRA stays committed to its mission to educate, advocate and represent the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use of products that reduce harm from tobacco use.  We advocate for the rights of consumers in the Asia-Pacific region to access and use evidence-based, regulated, and properly marketed harm reduction products as a means of reducing the devastating impact of smoking-related diseases.”

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Dave Cross

Journalist at POTV

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Dave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.