Details of Sweden’s strategy to combat smoking… and demands to replicate it in countries around the world

Stockholm - Ma'an - The Swedish experience in combating smoking and its health risks is one of the inspiring experiences around the world, especially after the smoking rate among its population decreased to only 5.6%, in addition to the decline in the rate of tobacco-related deaths by about 39.6% compared to the European average, where the smoking prevalence rate is 23%. Sweden is close to being declared a smoke-free country, thanks to the application of the principle of "risk reduction" and its reliance on alternative tobacco products, which has enhanced its ability to achieve positive results in reducing smoking rates and protecting its citizens from the dangers of traditional cigarettes. Swedes are proud of what they have achieved in this approach, stressing that they have not completely moved away from nicotine, but they are getting it in a safer way, through modern, less dangerous products, such as: oral tobacco products (snus), nicotine pouches, electronic smoking devices, and other smoke-free alterna tives, despite the European Union's measures against these policies. However, the Swedish experience has become a reality that proves the worth of alternative smoking products and their positive impact on societies that have relied on them to confront the dangers of traditional smoking. The Swedish government has announced the implementation of many educational programs for its citizens, to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking, which include making alternative smoking products available, whether electronic cigarettes or heated tobacco and other modern products that many scientific studies have proven to be less dangerous than traditional cigarettes, in addition to disseminating reliable information about modern products, to help them quit. According to an official report issued in Sweden under the title "No Smoke.. Less Harmful", nicotine itself is not dangerous, but it is related to the way it is used. The report also confirmed that by providing and regulating safer alternatives, we can overcome healt h problems. The Swedish government has been keen to provide alternative tobacco products at reasonable prices that increase their competitiveness, to encourage smokers who wish to continue smoking to use them, stressing that the best option for anyone is to quit smoking completely, while for those who wish to continue smoking, the best option for them is to turn to alternative products. What Sweden has done is give adult smokers a real opportunity to choose between different products and enhance their ability to access those less dangerous products. It has also prompted many experts and specialists to demand that this experience be generalized in countries around the world to achieve victory in the face of the danger of smoking, and to reach the benefits achieved by the principle of "risk reduction" in reducing the rates of tobacco-related diseases and deaths, as happened in Sweden. Source: Maan News Agency