Cigarette smoking is a major
public health issue in
India and leads to significant
morbidity and
mortality. Addressing the issue of
smoking is a major challenge to
public health, as the addiction is hard to break.
Counseling smokers regarding
smoking cessation is the first step to achieving cessation, but the quit rates remain low. Several pharmacological interventions have been developed over the years.
Nicotine replacement therapy is available in a variety of formulations, each with different advantages, drawbacks, acceptability among
smokers and quit rates. In addition, a range of novel
nicotine and
tobacco products, including Heated
Tobacco Products (HTPs), have been developed which leverage
nicotine to
aid in
smoking cessation. A group of medical experts convened to
review the evidence on the burden of
smoking, the concept of Tobacco
Harm Reduction (THR), novel
nicotine and
tobacco products for THR, and the potential of HTPs to
aid in
smoking cessation. This
paper outlines the findings and recommendations regarding THR in the Indian context. The panel opined that
tobacco cessation centers and
counseling remain the
foundation of
tobacco cessation in
India. At the same
time, there appears to be potential for the application of THR products in
India. The relevant authorities must
review the potential of THR products, and make these available, to provide the best possible cessation strategy for the Indian
population that is currently at
risk of
mortality and severe
morbidity.