GFN News

Understanding what consumers think, feel, and do is essential to generating robust evidence on tobacco and nicotine products. In this GFN Science Lab session, Christelle Chrea discusses the role of consumer-reported outcome measures (CROMs) in tobacco and nicotine research, and the challenges involved in measuring consumer perceptions, behaviours, and experiences. The session explores the distinction between descriptive measures, which capture observable behaviours such as product use and frequency, and psychometric measures, which assess underlying constructs such as risk perception, dependence, and other cognitive, perceptual, and affective dimensions.

What happens when a government bans safer nicotine alternatives instead of regulating them? In this GFN Voices episode from #GFN26, Brent Stafford speaks with Dr. Mariana Hoyo (Mexico) and Gina Reyes (Colombia) about how two neighboring countries have taken very different approaches to vaping—and what those policies mean for public health.

How do people actually transition between different nicotine products over time? Are young people who experiment with e-cigarettes more likely to become smokers, and is dual use a long-term pattern or simply part of the journey away from cigarettes? Drawing on a decade of data from the U.S. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, this presentation explores how nicotine product use changes among both underage and adult populations. Using longitudinal evidence that follows the same individuals over time, it examines real-world transitions between cigarettes, smoke-free products, dual use, and non-use.

Prohibition cannot eliminate consumer demand. It’s an iron rule of free markets. As lower-risk nicotine products remain stuck under FDA review, illicit products proliferate to fill the void. Shot on location at GFN 2026 in Warsaw, Poland, Altria’s Dr. Mohamadi Sarkar argues that slow authorization decisions have left regulators playing enforcement “whack-a-mole” while adult smokers wait for more FDA-authorized alternatives. Featuring: DR. MOHAMADI SARKAR Regulatory Science & Engagement, Altria Affiliate Prof., Clinical Pharmacology, VCU @AltriaScience

The debate over prohibition often focuses on intentions, but the real question is whether restrictive policies achieve their public health goals. As governments around the world consider tighter controls on nicotine and tobacco products, evidence continues to raise important questions about the unintended consequences of prohibition, including the growth of illicit markets, the role of organized crime, lost tax revenue, and reduced access to lower-risk alternatives for adults who smoke.

How much nicotine remains in a nicotine pouch after months of storage? And can formulation design improve long-term stability? In this presentation, Anna Balconi explores preliminary research comparing conventional microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)-based nicotine pouches with a novel semi-gel-based formulation developed by Alchem NicSelect. The study examines how nicotine content changes over time and investigates whether different pouch architectures can reduce degradation caused by oxidation and evaporation.

Despite decades of prohibition, smoking remains one of the leading preventable causes of disease and death worldwide. So why do policies that restrict safer alternatives often fail to improve public health? Leading experts examine the unintended consequences of prohibition, arguing that banning lower-risk nicotine products does not eliminate demand—it simply shifts consumers toward illicit markets and more harmful products. Drawing on real-world examples from countries including Brazil, Mexico and the United States, they discuss how restrictive policies can undermine public health objectives, fuel illegal trade, and make product regulation more difficult.

What’s really inside nicotine pouches? While these products are often treated as a single category, their composition can vary significantly. In this GFN Science Lab presentation, Lindsay Reese presents one of the largest compositional analyses of nicotine pouches to date, covering 446 fully tested products from 2025 (drawn from more than 500 products analyzed). The research explores key characteristics such as nicotine content, moisture, pH, impurities, heavy metals, and other chemical constituents, offering a detailed look at the diversity of products available across global markets.

What are the fundamental principles of harm reduction and how can they be applied to many areas of human activity? How can tobacco harm reduction be integrated into mainstream practice to reduce the harms of smoking for those most at risk – illicit drug users, those with poor mental health and others marginalised through economic and legal constraints? What are the obstacles to integration and how might we address and overcome these?

Among more than 100,000 people who used heroin in England, smoking accounted for 24% of premature deaths, nearly matching illegal drugs at 28%. Yet smoking remains routinely overlooked within drug treatment and harm reduction services. Shot on location at GFN 2026 in Warsaw, Poland, David MacKintosh of the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction explains how integrating safer nicotine could deliver a low-cost, high-impact intervention that helps people live longer and healthier lives. Featuring: DAVID MACKINTOSH Director, Knowledge Action Change Fmr. Chair of Trustees, Drug and Alcohol Services London kachange.eu

Author: Anna Franzen

Barriers to the marketing of novel tobacco and nicotine products, such as regulatory bans and restrictions, pose an existential threat to tobacco harm reduction and improving the health and lives of adult smokers. This workshop will take a dive into assessing the science base used to drive restrictions, focussing on several themes which are commonly used to push for stronger regulation or outright prohibition and presenting scientific counterarguments.

PROHIBITION: WHAT LIES BENEATH? | THR Unfiltered by GFN.TV

Author: Anna Masser

More than a billion adults globally smoke combustible cigarettes. The harm caused can be reduced if individuals switch completely to smoke-free products. Availability of a wide range of options can accelerate their switching journey. However, access to products is being restricted by either outright bans or flavour restrictions. Whilst aimed at preventing underage use, this overlooks the needs of adults who smoke. This session will focus on a rigorous, evidence-based evaluation of whether product/flavour bans achieve the objective of reducing youth use of smoke-free products, without undermining adult smokers’ access to effective switching options.

Europe is escalating its war on safer nicotine by pursuing new restrictions on vaping, nicotine pouches, flavors, and affordability despite overwhelming evidence that these products can displace smoking. Shot on location at GFN 2026 in Warsaw, Poland, Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos describes the policy shift as a “tremendous setback.” He examines why Europe is abandoning common sense, refusing to learn from failed prohibitionist policies, and pushing a market serving millions of former smokers toward illicit trade. Featuring: KONSTANTINOS FARSALINOS, M.D. Cardiologist, Public Health Expert University of Patras, Greece University of West Attica, Greece ecigarette-research.org

This session explored the future of tobacco control in Iberoamérica, highlighting the consequences of prohibitionist and ideologically driven approaches. It will examine how such policies may overlook key public health and human rights principles by limiting access to lower-risk alternatives and failing to reflect the realities of people who use nicotine. The discussion will also consider the role of tobacco harm reduction (THR) as a more pragmatic, evidence-based approach to improving health outcomes.

Harm reduction approaches are now an established and fundamental part of the response to drug use. While tobacco harm reduction has an expanding evidence base it is often viewed in narrow terms, as if people who smoke exist in a discrete silo. This has meant the potential of THR to help communities with high smoking prevalence, such as people who use drugs, remains underexplored – despite the evident harms they experience and their impact on health outcomes. This session brings a drug harm reduction perspective to THR, drawing on frontline experience across a range of environments and sectors, seeking to highlight what works in terms of harm reduction for individuals and communities, plus opportunities for further development.

Can we rethink nicotine addiction? Is the word "addiction" helping—or hurting—the conversation? In this episode of THR Unfiltered, recorded during the Global Forum on Nicotine 2026 #GFN26 we speak with behavioral scientist Dr. Arielle Selya about the science behind nicotine dependence, addiction, and tobacco harm reduction. The discussion explores why researchers often prefer the term "dependence" over "addiction," how these concepts differ in scientific and clinical contexts, and why language matters when discussing people who use nicotine.

The panel will discuss the various forms of prohibition, examine the main objections to prohibition, and ask under what circumstances, if any, prohibitions are justified. We consider the likely consequences of prohibition, especially in the counterintuitive case where prohibition applies to products safer than the market norm. What are the merits of two common strategies for addressing the costs and consequences: a stronger enforcement approach or removing the underlying economic incentives? We will conclude with an engaging finale, in which the panel and audience are asked to provide unwanted advice to the Australian government, Michael Bloomberg and the WHO.

The session will explore the economic dimensions of prohibition through a political economy lens. Drawing on data and insights from multiple markets, it considers how regulatory actions may influence consumer behaviour, demand across product categories and public perceptions. It will also examine potential fiscal effects and the dynamics of illicit trade in response to prohibition. Bringing together policy, data, and market insight, this session explores how prohibition shapes real-world outcomes for consumers, governments, and public health.

Over seven out of every ten vapes sold worldwide now come from the illicit market. Worth an astounding $47 billion USD annually, the global black market for vaping products accounts for 76% of all vapes sold, dwarfing the legal trade and proving restrictions largely ineffective. Shot on location at GFN 2026 in Warsaw, Poland, Shane MacGuill of Euromonitor International explains how taxes, restrictions, product bans, and regulatory barriers are driving consumers into illicit markets around the world. Featuring: SHANE MACGUILL Global Lead, Nicotine & Cannabis Euromonitor International euromonitor.com @ShaneMacGuill

Safer nicotine products are increasingly popular for assisting those quitting smoking. Evidence continues to support the game-changing effect this can have on individual and community health. Some questions emerge from this. What should be the role of public health in this? Why do some public health professionals continue to ignore or dismiss the emerging evidence? Does ideology cloud judgements? Should personal choice and freedom be a priority? What legitimate role is there for regulation in this area?

How does prohibition of safer alternatives square with the Hippocratic oath? What are the ethics of accepting smokers' lives and wellbeing as collateral damage, in pursuit of the war on the nicotine industries? Why is giving alternatives to people who misuse substances viewed differently to permitting people who smoke access to less harmful alternatives? Supported by evidence from work successfully debunking bad science, including exposing research claims correlating viral TikTok videos about nicotine pouches to sales. Shouldn't we allow people to make informed judgements about their behaviour and their health?

THR Unfiltered #1 | Navigating the prohibitionist landscape of THR in the States by GFN.TV

What happens when governments ignore science and choose outright prohibition over evidence-based public health? In this panel discussion, international experts and harm-reduction advocates break down the global shift toward nicotine prohibition and the severe, unintended consequences of banning safer nicotine alternatives.

In this compelling presentation, Dr. Alex Wodak explores the inevitable and rapid shift from combustible tobacco to safer nicotine alternatives. Moving beyond just the obvious health benefits, Dr. Wodak dives deep into the broader impact of these disruptive technologies and outlines why harm reduction advocates are crucial in shaping future legislation. Welcome to the "post-smoking world"—and how we navigate the transition. In this video, you’ll learn: - why safer nicotine products are set to completely displace smoking soon; - the multi-layered impact of tobacco harm reduction (beyond just physical health); - the vital role advocates play in upcoming legislative battles.

What happens when governments implement blanket bans on Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) products? In this insightful panel discussion, experts from around the world expose the dangerous, unintended consequences of over-regulation and prohibition - what moderator John Fell calls the "invisible foot." From street-level corruption to billion-dollar criminal enterprises, our panel explores how prohibition fails to stop consumer demand and instead directly fuels global organized crime.

Is public health losing its way? In his 13th presentation at the Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN), Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos delivers a powerful address on the "ideological war" surrounding tobacco harm reduction. As supranational organizations and regulatory bodies lean heavily toward dogmatic prohibitions and restrictive frameworks, Dr. Farsalinos argues that the foundational principles of true public health—empathy, compassion, and human autonomy—are being left behind in favor of a moralistic "quit or die" agenda. Tune in to discover why defending science-backed, safer alternatives isn't just a matter of medicine and epidemiology, but a fundamental fight for human rights and personal freedom.

In this episode, researcher Chimwemwe Ngoma breaks down a comprehensive national study analyzing the tobacco use patterns of over 30,500 adults. While an overwhelming 95% of Malawians do not use tobacco, the data reveals a stark socioeconomic divide: smoking prevalence among the poorest communities is double that of the wealthiest. Tune in to discover how factors like education and wealth influence the choice between combustible, smokeless, and dual tobacco use, and why the heaviest health burden falls on the most disadvantaged.

The battle over safer nicotine products is certainly about health, but it’s also about something more important: autonomy. As governments embrace nicotine restrictions driven by moral panic and public health paternalism, adult choice is increasingly treated as a threat instead of a right to be respected. In this episode of GFN Interviews, Reem Ibrahim of Reason examines the growing conflict between individual freedom and population-level control. From disposable vape bans and black markets to anti-capitalist hostility toward tobacco harm reduction, Ibrahim argues public health is drifting toward prohibition and away from the people it claims to protect. Featuring: REEM IBRAHIM Research Fellow, Policy & Media, Reason Magazine @reemamiribrahim reemabrahim.com

What does it take to implement life-saving public health programs in the Middle East and Africa? In this episode of GFN Insights, Amjad Malaeb from MENAHRA shares the critical challenges and breakthroughs of harm reduction in this region. In this interview, public health expert Amjad Malaeb dives into his five-year journey working with the Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association (MENAHRA). Amjad discusses how the organization has expanded its scope from HIV-focused harm reduction for people who use drugs to a holistic healthcare approach addressing tuberculosis (TB) and hepatitis. Discover the harsh realities of navigating complex political and security landscapes, the critical role of stakeholder and community engagement, and how the Global Fund MENA Learning Hub is empowering local communities with essential knowledge.

Is the UK’s "smoke-free generation" plan destined to backfire? In this episode of GFN News, host Zuzanna Kopacz sits down with author and freelance writer Jacob Grier to unpack the practical realities and hidden dangers of the newly passed UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill. While the policy aims to create a smoke-free generation by phasing out legal tobacco sales for anyone born after 2009, Grier argues that the legislation ignores the needs of current smokers. Worse yet, by introducing sweeping bans on vape advertising and targeting alternative nicotine flavors, the bill threatens to shut down the very pathways that help smokers successfully switch to lower-risk harm reduction products.

Despite low female smoking rates in the country, women face unique, hidden challenges when trying to access safer nicotine alternatives. Hannah shares her personal and professional motivations for bringing these voices to light , highlighting the critical gaps in policy, education, and market regulation that leave Malawian women behind.

Twenty years after the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control came into force, has the treaty lost its way? According to Jeannie Cameron, the answer is yes. Cameron is a tobacco policy expert with a background in international law who observed the FCTC negotiations from the beginning. She says a treaty once focused on reducing smoking-related disease has morphed into a global system hostile to tobacco harm reduction. From NGO influence and prohibitionist thinking to the demonization of safer nicotine products, tobacco control has drifted far from its original purpose and now risks lives. Featuring: JEANNIE CAMERON CEO/Managing Dir., JCIC International Consultancy Fmr. V.P. International, Juul Labs Fmr. Head of International Advocacy, BAT @JCICJeannie

In this episode of GFN News, we sit down with Kurt Yeo to discuss the launch of THR Global, a new platform designed to bridge the gap between personal experience and policy-grade evidence. Kurt shares his powerful "Building Block" analogy, explaining why a "giant bag" of random testimonials often fails to move the needle. By extracting specific data points - like smoking history, failed quit attempts, and product usage - THR Global is turning individual stories into a structured, global evidence base that policy makers can no longer overlook.

Miguel Garcia, the founder of THR News, breaks down the critical state of tobacco harm reduction (THR) in Mexico. Facing a "rain of disinformation" and a constitutional prohibition on vaping, Miguel explains why providing evidence-based information is more than a choice - it's a necessity for public health.

Today we explore the rise of harm reduction across the Middle East and North Africa through the story of MENAHRA and the activists, healthcare workers, and organizations fighting stigma, HIV, and outdated drug policies. In regions where addiction and public health issues are often heavily stigmatized, harm reduction became more than healthcare — it became a movement for human rights and survival.

For too long, the voices of nicotine consumers have been sidelined, silenced, or willfully excluded from the global policy stage. From WHO COP meetings to local regulations, the people most impacted by these decisions are often the only ones without a seat at the table. In this episode of GFN News, Zuzanna Kopacz speaks with Will Godfrey, Editor of Filter, about the launch of THR Global. This new platform is more than just a website—it is a mission to reclaim the narrative through the power of lived experience.

In a years-long campaign to eradicate smoking, Australia’s tobacco control establishment has lost all control of the nicotine market. Former law enforcement officer Rohan Pike says 70–80% of the tobacco market is now illicit, while roughly 95% of vaping has been pushed into criminal hands. The founder of Australia’s first Tobacco Strike Team explains how excessive taxes, vape prohibition, and policy denial empowered organized crime. Featuring: ROHAN PIKE Illicit Trade Advisor, Sr. Australian Federal Police Officer, Founder, Tobacco Strike Team pikeconsulting.com.au

In this episode of GFN Insights, we sit down with Marceline Akinyi to discuss the complex landscape of nicotine education and public health in Kenya. As the country faces a wave of product bans, Marceline highlights a dangerous gap between academic research and public understanding.

In this episode of GFN Insights, Jon Derricott from Knowledge Action Change (KAC) joins Joanna Junak to discuss the development of the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR) image library. Hosted on Flickr, this unique initiative aims to document the rapidly evolving world of tobacco and nicotine products. From modern vape shops to traditional tobacconists and local products like gutka or negrimbo, the library serves as a vital, royalty-free resource for activists, journalists, and presenters worldwide.

One of the world’s leading harm reduction advocates sees disaster unfolding in Australia. Sky-high tobacco taxes and sweeping restrictions on nicotine vaping were meant to reduce harm—but instead, they’ve fueled a booming illicit market, siphoned billions in public revenue, and triggered a wave of violence tied to organized crime. In this GFN Interviews, Dr. Alex Wodak explains how Australia’s approach has veered into “quasi prohibition,” driving demand into the black market and overwhelming enforcement. Featuring: DR. ALEX WODAK Physician, Internal Medicine Former Director, Alcohol and Drug Services St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney Board Member, Australian THR Association @AlexWodak

In this episode of GFN News, Joanna Junak sits down with Will Godfrey, Executive Editor of Filter, to dissect the latest findings from the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS). While public health agencies have long warned of a youth vaping "epidemic," the actual data reveals a startling and positive trend that many organizations seem reluctant to celebrate. In this interview, we cover: - The Record Lows: Why youth smoking in the U.S. has plummeted to a historic 0.2%—and why there was no "fanfare" from the CDC or FDA. - Debunking the "Gateway" Theory: How a decade of data shows that vaping has likely displaced smoking rather than encouraged it. - The Politics of Panic: A look at how "moral panic" and agency narratives often overshadow inconvenient truths about safer nicotine alternatives. - Common Liability: Understanding why researchers believe the correlation between vaping and smoking is misunderstood by mainstream tobacco control. As youth smoking rates hit unprecedented lows, we ask: Why are the entities tasked with protecting public health stoking alarmism instead of acknowledging this historic decline?

Is the EU ignoring the most effective tool to end smoking? In this episode of GFN News, Joanna Junak sits down with renowned physician and public health researcher Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos to discuss his latest review on nicotine pouches. As smoking rates across the globe remain a primary public health concern, Dr. Farsalinos argues that we are overlooking a "promising harm-reduction option" that could save millions of lives.

Is the UK at a "regulatory crossroads"? As the Tobacco and Vapes Bill moves toward Royal Assent, a new government consultation threatens to legally ban vaping in all indoor spaces where smoking is already prohibited. In this interview, Bernice Evans, Chair of the New Nicotine Alliance (NNA), joins us to discuss the launch of the "Save Vaping" campaign. We dive deep into why treating vaping the same as smoking isn't just scientifically flawed—it's a massive risk to public health. - May 8, 2026 (11:59 PM): Deadline to submit your response to the government consultation. - October 1, 2026: New vaping taxes and business regulations are set to begin. Take Action: Your voice matters! Visit SaveVaping.org to find resources on how to respond to the consultation and contact your MP. Don't let misinformed legislation undermine years of progress in harm reduction.

Australia’s vape crackdown was supposed to curb youth use—but in practice, it has created prohibition by proxy. While still legal, access to nicotine vapes is tightly controlled and choice is so severely limited that over 90% of all vapes in Australia are purchased on the black market. In this episode of GFN Interviews, Australian GP Dr. Carolyn Beaumont examines how this system frustrates access to safer nicotine—from restrictive product approvals to medical guidelines that offer little real support for harm reduction. Featuring: DR. CAROLYN BEAUMONT, MD Australian General Practitioner/Family Physician

In this episode of the Science Series, Roberto Sussman breaks down why many lab studies on e‑cigarette emissions can’t be trusted—and how bad testing setups can create misleading “high toxin” results. He explains the “optimal regime” for vaping devices (power, resistance, airflow), why reproducibility requires full reporting of test conditions, and how unrealistic puffing machines can cause overheating and artificially inflate byproducts. You’ll also learn why using obsolete devices (or poorly stored old hardware) ruins conclusions, and how a common toxicology mistake—calculating concentrations in the puff volume instead of the air a person actually inhales—can overestimate exposure by 10–20×. Roberto shares a simple traffic‑light approach to grading studies (green/credible, yellow/questionable, red/reject) and why the most alarming results often come from the weakest methodologies.

“Why have some studies reported enormous amounts of formaldehyde and metals in vaping emissions?” In this episode of Science Series with Roberto Sussman, we break down how those scary numbers can come from bad experimental conditions—especially overheating setups that don’t reflect how people actually vape. Roberto explains why “micrograms per puff” can be misleading, how to translate emissions into realistic daily exposure (based on typical puff counts), and how those totals should be compared against toxicological standards published by regulators. You’ll also hear why properly designed tests tend to find toxic byproducts far below cigarette smoke—and often below common benchmarks, with a reality-check comparison to everyday aerosols and even air pollution exposure.

Governments insist their nicotine policies are “evidence-based.” But a closer look reveals cherry-picked findings, flawed comparisons, and sensational claims that don’t withstand scrutiny. In this GFN interviews, independent tobacco scientist Dr. Ian Fearon explains how weak research and distorted interpretations shape global nicotine policy. From the misuse of correlation to media amplification of questionable studies, Fearon shows how flawed science fuels prohibitionist thinking—leaving smokers misinformed about safer alternatives that could reduce the harms of smoking. Featuring: DR. IAN FEARON Director, Independent Research Scientist whatIF? Consulting, UK