It's no secret that quitting tobacco and nicotine altogether is the best choice a smoker can make. But the reality is that many don’t. Today, 14.7 million South Africans smoke*.
For adult smokers who don’t quit smoking, advances in science and technology mean there are now a range of smoke-free products that have the potential to cause less harm than continuing to smoke cigarettes.
* Source - GSPR 2023.NCPT W1 & W2 2023.
HOW DO SMOKE-FREE PRODUCTS WORK?
Smoke-free products deliver nicotine without burning.
Nicotine is addictive and one of many reasons why people smoke, but it’s by no means the most harmful thing about smoking.
The most dangerous thing about smoking is the smoke itself. It contains many harmful chemicals that are known to be the main cause of smoking-related diseases, such as lung cancer.
For this very reason, products that provide nicotine without smoke, whilst not risk-free and addictive, are a far better choice for adults than continued smoking.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH BURNING?
A burning cigarette releases over 6,000 chemicals, many are harmful. It’s the high levels of these harmful chemicals present in cigarette smoke that are the primary cause of smoking-related diseases.
When you remove burning, it’s possible to significantly reduce exposure to these harmful chemicals.
Alternatives to continued smoking that don’t burn exist—such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and oral smokeless products. These alternatives are not risk-free and provide nicotine, which is addictive.
WHAT IS NICOTINE?
Nicotine is a naturally occurring substance found in some plants, most notably in tobacco. It is one of the reasons why people smoke, alongside factors like taste and ritual.
There are often misconceptions about the role of nicotine in causing harm.
Although nicotine is addictive and comes with its own health risks, a number of public health authorities have noted that nicotine is not a carcinogen and is not the primary cause of smoking-related diseases.
WHAT PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE?
There are lots of product types in the smoke-free category, such as modern oral products, snus pouches, nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products.
Smoke-free products can play a vital role in securing a smoke-free future, helping adults all over the world make informed decisions for their health.
E-CIGARETTES
E-cigarettes are smoke-free products that heat an e-liquid to produce a vapor.
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What are e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that contains flavorings and usually nicotine. Some resemble cigarettes, some resemble pens; while “vape mods” are bigger devices that can be modified, e.g. by adding a larger liquid chamber. Like other smoke-free products, e-cigarettes are not risk-free and contain nicotine, which is addictive.
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How do they work?
Broadly speaking, they include a rechargeable battery and an element that heats the e-liquid to produce the vapor that’s inhaled. The vast majority of liquids—and their vapors—contain nicotine.
HEATED TOBACCO
Heated tobacco products are smoke-free products based on the concept of heating tobacco to temperatures well below those reached by a burning cigarette.
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What is heated tobacco?
Heated tobacco products generate a nicotine-containing aerosol by heating tobacco to temperatures sufficient to release nicotine and flavors from the tobacco, but low enough to prevent the tobacco from burning. Like other smoke-free products, heated tobacco products are not risk-free and contain nicotine, which is addictive.
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How does it work?
To produce the nicotine-containing vapor, tobacco (in a stick or capsule) is heated using battery-powered heating systems or by way of a carbon tip.
ORAL SMOKELESS PRODUCTS
Oral smokeless products refers to tobacco (known as snus) and tobacco-free nicotine-containing smoke-free products designed for oral use.
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WHAT ARE ORAL SMOKELESS PRODUCTS?
Snus consists of ground tobacco mixed with water, salt and flavoring agents. It can be loose or in small portion pouches. Its use does not involve burning or inhalation of an aerosol. Tobacco-free nicotine-containing pouches do not contain tobacco. Like other smoke-free products, modern oral products are not risk-free and contain nicotine, which is addictive.
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HOW DO THEY WORK?
It's generally placed between the upper lip and gum where it gradually releases nicotine.
