CoEHAR in Caritas is a donation and assistance project launched by ECLAT srl (a spin-off of the University of Catania), in collaboration with CoEHAR (the Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction at the University of Catania) and LIAF (the Italian Anti-Smoking League). The initiative aims to support the Caritas Diocesana of Catania by helping individuals facing economic and social difficulties, including assistance in quitting smoking.
As part of our project activities and studies on smokers suffering from specific pathologies and/or unable to quit smoking on their own, we have achieved groundbreaking results in recent years. These include high cessation rates among participants and significant harm reduction. Unfortunately, international epidemiological research shows that conventional cigarette smoking is the leading cause of health inequalities and remains the primary cause of death among disadvantaged social classes. Although the economic costs of smoking continue to rise, traditional smoking today represents an entrenched pathological addiction, strongly associated with economic hardship, low education levels, and limited access to health information.
Building on this premise, CoEHAR, LIAF, and ECLAT have initiated a donation, cessation support, health education, evaluation, and monitoring project to assist approximately 100 smokers in situations of economic and/or social disadvantage who are unable to quit smoking independently.
Specifically, the project includes:
• A donation to Caritas of 100 electronic cigarettes and 10,000 refills, sufficient for approximately one month of use per smoker.
• Health assessments for participants, conducted in collaboration with LIAF volunteers and CoEHAR specialists.
• Periodic health monitoring (bi-weekly and/or monthly) of smokers transitioning to non-combustible products.
• Health education and training on healthy practices and lifestyles, conducted by CoEHAR volunteers.
• Initial health assessments by LIAF volunteers, followed by the distribution of devices and refills, as well as monthly follow-ups on smoking habits.
Despite the global scope of its scientific research, CoEHAR continues to support the Sicilian community in its fight to protect health and uphold individual rights.
CoEHAR in Caritas will be officially presented on Friday, December 20, at 6:00 PM, at the Caritas Diocesana headquarters in Via Acquicella 104, Catania. The event will be attended by the Director of Caritas Catania, Don Nuccio Puglisi; CoEHAR authorities, including Prof. Riccardo Polosa, Prof. Giovanni Li Volti, and Prof. Pasquale Caponnetto; CoEHAR members; LIAF President Elena Granata; Caritas specialist Dr. Giovanni Mangano; and all the volunteers who have supported smokers in need during these intense days of activity.
