Harm Reduction in a Persistent Smoker

By David J. Riley, MD, FCCP

Print This | TOC | Previous | Next

Commentary on Tobacco Harm Reduction

Barriers to Harm Reduction

Harm reduction is a policy that aims to reduce the health and societal consequences of undesirable behaviors. It has been used to prevent vehicular injury (seat belts), drug addition (needle exchange, methadone), and the dangers of adolescent sexual activity (sex education). Seat belts are very effective for reducing vehicular injuries, while there is little convincing evidence that sex education reduces unwanted pregnancies. Transferring a harm-reduction strategy to tobacco control may not be simple. The societal costs of tobacco-related disease are hidden, and contemporary American society views smoking, if done privately, as a personal freedom. These issues weaken the urgency of a policy of tobacco harm reduction. A perceived issue with harm reduction is that the strategy might undermine primary prevention and cessation of smoking, the mainstays of tobacco-control policy. The result might be under-financing and/or poorly administered programs. Another issue that may impede a harm-reduction strategy from being implemented is unwillingness of the political process to change the authority to regulate tobacco products. Traditional tobacco products are currently exempt from regulatory oversight. For valid research and surveillance to be conducted, the Congress must empower the regulatory authorities to regulate all tobacco products, whether conventional or modified. The outcome of this legal and political issue is not certain and may take considerable time to resolve.

Print This | TOC | Previous | Next

3300 Dundee Road • Northbrook, Illinois 60062-2348 • (847) 498-1400 • (800) 343-2227
Copyright ©1999-2008 American College of Chest Physicians. All Rights Reserved.
ACCP Privacy Policy | ACCP Web Site Terms of Use