CoEHAR, UNIVERSITY OF CATANIA: HARM REDUCTION IS THE WEAPON TO DEFEAT SMOKE

“It is a fact that in Italy there are millions of smokers who are unwilling or unable to quit smoking – explained prof. Riccardo Polosa, founder of CoEHAR - These smokers do not accept to be medicalized because of their smoking habit and in Italy, even today, we do not have a health policy that takes care of these people. Risk reduction is the solution. In countries with a liberal approach, such as Sweden or England, which have chosen to open up to alternative nicotine release tools by promoting them in the cessation paths for heavy smokers, the prestigious smoke-free goal is being reached. It is time to follow these virtuous examples also in Italy".

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EU: public consultation on the “Evaluation of the legislative framework for tobacco control”

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the "Evaluation of the legislative framework for tobacco control" which allows citizens, experts, industries and all stakeholders to express their opinion on the revision of the Tobacco Directive (TPD) through filling in a multiple-choice questionnaire, and sharing a final opinion of up to 500 characters.

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CoEHAR researchers’ “guidebook”: how to identify data misinterpretations in ecig studies

Researchers from CoEHAR's In Silico Science project have developed a two-step technique to identify spin bias, research reporting that results in an intentional or unintentional misinterpretation of research results.

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CEASEFIRE: first study in the world to assess the efficacy and safety of heated tobacco products and e-cig as a valid smoking cessation tool

“We observed an improvement in exercise tolerance in participants compared to the initial levels: many patients from the first month declared that they have more breath and to feel less fatigue in small but important daily activities such as climbing stairs or doing household” - added prof. Pasquale Caponnetto, professor of clinical psychology at DISFOR of the University of Catania and CoEHAR member.

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Schizophrenia spectrum disorders patients: smoking also harms friends and relatives

The high number of cigarettes smoked every day by patients with severe mental disorders does not only harm individual smokers but also their parents and the people around them. The habit of smoking is perceived as harmful and also causes discomfort to those close to patients with schizophrenia who can even smoke 60 cigarettes a day.

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