No Tobacco Day, 31 May 2022: smoker number increased, concrete answers needed
Yesterday, the Italian Ministry of Health released new data on smoking prevalence: there are 800000 more smokers in the country than in 2019. Rates increased especially among women and young people. The report found that also the numbers of the users of heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes is rising. “An expected disaster, partly anticipated by our data published in 2020 and obtained thanks to a study conducted during the acute phase of Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, no prevention policies, no answers from the Italian health authorities. Reporting a disaster is not enough: we need to come up with alternative and effective solutions”. Stated professor Riccardo Polosa, founder of the CoEHAR, who opened the first National Conference on Tobacco Harm Reduction.