What is tobacco harm reduction?: Difference between revisions

Tobacco harm reduction is no different from other harm reduction strategies which are generally very effective and widely accepted. These include methadone for heroin users, clean needle exchange programs and even car seat belts. And similar to other harm reduction strategies, THR is not merely about ensuring access to products which reduce risk. It entails the reduction and, ultimately, elimination of external harms usually caused by governments, such as criminal penalties, punitive taxation, and the fomentation of stigma. It involves the empowerment of individuals to make informed decisions and respecting those decisions, whether they choose to continue using nicotine or not.  

Tobacco harm reduction is one of the three pillars of Australia’s National Tobacco Strategy. One objective of the NTS is to “reduce harm associated with continuing use of tobacco and nicotine products” (p11). Australia is legally obligated to support tobacco harm reduction as a signatory to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.