What is Harm Reduction?
Harm reduction, while relatively new to health policy approaches, has long been a practice used in health and human behaviour…
ahra_admin4 February 2026
A Fresh Start for the New Year: A Better Way to Quit Smoking
The start of a new year often comes with quiet promises to ourselves: this year will be different. For millions…
ahra_admin6 January 2026
Zambia’s Tobacco Bill Risks Blocking Smokers’ Best Route To Quit, New Report Warns
Lusaka, Zambia – New tobacco bill risks depriving smokers of their best chance to quit the deadly habit, according to…
ahra_admin26 November 2025
Evidence for Tobacco Harm Reduction: Why Consumers Demand Safer Alternatives – Part 3
Safer nicotine products reduce harm Combustible tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals, dozens of which cause cancer, heart disease and…
ahra_admin31 October 2025
Everything About Us, Without Us: How COP11 Silences Consumers – Part 2
Closed doors at a public‑health conference At COP11, national delegations will negotiate measures that could reshape the nicotine landscape for…
ahra_admin28 October 2025
COP11 and the promise of harm reduction – Part 1
What is COP11? Later this year (17–22 November 2025) the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on…
ahra_admin24 October 2025
Global Health at a Turning Point: Risks and Urgent Reforms
Global Health at a Turning Point: Risks and Urgent Reforms The future of global health hangs in the balance as…
ahra_admin8 August 2025
Uzbekistan’s Restrictions on Safer Nicotine Alternatives are ‘Costing Thousands Of Lives’
Uzbekistan’s Restrictions on Nicotine Alternatives are ‘Costing Thousands Of Lives’ Ground-breaking new research reveals Uzbekistan’s restrictive policies on safer alternatives…
ahra_admin6 August 2025
Why Zambia’s Tobacco Control Bill Should Adopt Harm Reduction
Today, Zambia stands at a pivotal moment in tobacco regulation as a new tobacco control bill seeks to restrict the…
ahra_admin15 July 2025
Cessation Over Harm Reduction: WCTC 2025 Draws a Hard Line Against Less Harmful Nicotine Products
Dublin, Ireland — The World Conference on Tobacco Control 2025 (WCTC) brought together global public health leaders to confront the…
ahra_admin10 July 2025
GFN 2025: Harm Reduction as a Lifeline and a Community
As nicotine policy debates grow more contentious, GFN 2025 reminds us of what’s at stake: real lives, real families, and…
ahra_admin23 June 2025
Oral Nicotine Pouches Are a Game-Changer For Women In Sweden’s Smoke-Free Success
First-of-its-kind study reveals female-friendly pouches have revolutionised how to wipe out cigarettes. Ground-breaking new research shows that oral nicotine pouches…
ahra_admin18 June 2025
Empowering Choices: A Call for THR in EU Law
The EU must adopt a more humane and science-driven approach to tackling smoking, according to a new opinion piece in…
ahra_admin12 June 2025
Africa at a Crossroads: This World Vape Day, Let’s Choose Health Over Harm
South Africa, May 30 – On this World Vape Day, AHRA (Africa Harm Reduction Alliance) calls on African governments, public…
ahra_admin30 May 2025
Misleading the Public: How Traditional Tobacco Control Content Distorts the Facts
Tobacco harm reduction (THR) is a public health strategy aimed at reducing the health risks associated with combustible tobacco use.…
ahra_admin5 May 2025
Research on Innovations for Africa: A New Opportunity Arises in Kenya
Kenya stands at a pivotal moment in its healthcare journey. With the recent launch of Cochrane Africa’s hub in Nairobi,…
ahra_admin24 April 2025
Restrictive policies on smoke-free alternatives could cost thousands of Spanish lives, report finds
A restrictive approach to safer smoke-free alternatives to cigarettes is hindering Spain's fight against the toll of tobacco and putting…
ahra_admin23 April 2025
French Restrictions on Safer Alternatives Trap Millions in Smoking, Report Warns
France’s restrictive stance on safer alternatives to cigarettes threatens to derail efforts to reduce the deadly toll of tobacco, according…
ahra_admin31 March 2025
What Drove Sweden’s Smoke-Free Story, and What Should Kenya Emulate?
Written by Joseph Magero Sweden's life-changing strategy, which remarkably reduced its smoking rate among males to 4.9% compared to Kenya’s…
ahra_admin28 February 2025
Back to the Basics: The Risk Continuum in Tobacco Harm Reduction
Embracing Harm Minimization on the Journey to Cessation The Back to the Basics series has already established how Tobacco Harm…
ahra_admin28 February 2025
Kenya risks prolonging smoking crisis by restricting safer alternatives, new report warns
Misguided restrictions on safer alternatives to cigarettes threaten to perpetuate the smoking crisis that kills 12,000 Kenyans annually, according to…
ahra_admin19 February 2025
Unpacking Kenya’s Newly Gazetted Warnings on Nicotine Products—Here’s What We Can Learn from Sweden
The long-awaited amendments on tobacco and nicotine products in Kenya have been signed into law and published in the Government…
ahra_admin19 February 2025
Back to the Basics: Tobacco Harm Reduction or Smoking Cessation? Which Approach is Better?
What is Tobacco Harm Reduction and how does it stand alongside smoking cessation? We’ll answer the question right away: firstly,…
ahra_admin19 February 2025
Tale of Two Nations: New analysis highlights New Zealand’s smoke-free progress vs. South Africa’s struggles
South Africa’s proposed new restrictions on safer alternatives to cigarettes will hold the country back in the fight against smoking-related…
ahra_admin10 February 2025
World Cancer Day: The Role of E-Cigarettes in Reducing Cancer Risk for People Who Smoke
Every year on February 4th, the world unites to raise awareness about cancer and its prevention. While traditional efforts focus…
ahra_admin4 February 2025
Tobacco Harm Reduction 101: What Every Person Who Smokes Should Know
What Is Tobacco Harm Reduction? Tobacco Harm Reduction is a public health strategy aimed at minimizing the health risks associated…
ahra_admin31 January 2025
Back to the Basics: Is Nicotine Really the Enemy? Understanding Nicotine Use in Tobacco Harm Reduction
The reality of nicotine use in harm reduction and how vaping and nicotine pouches are part of the solution When…
ahra_admin23 January 2025
AHRA Wrapped: Our Year in 2024
In 2024, amongst the COP10 disappointments and the promising mentions in the New Approaches conference, tobacco harm reduction (THR) has…
ahra_admin19 December 2024
Safer alternatives to smoking can save nearly 700,000 lives in Chile, Ireland and Taiwan
STOCKHOLM, 10 December 2024 - Almost 700,000 lives would be saved in Ireland, Taiwan and Chile if those countries embraced…
ahra_admin10 December 2024
Smoke-free alternatives could save 4.6m lives in Indonesia
STOCKHOLM, 09 December – MORE than 4.6 million lives could be saved if Indonesia embraces smoke-free alternatives to traditional cigarettes,…
ahra_admin9 December 2024
Global health experts unveil four-point plan to combat oral diseases through tobacco harm reduction
LONDON, 4 December 2024 – Leading international health experts today unveiled a pioneering four-point plan to address the global crisis…
ahra_admin4 December 2024
The Global Oral Health Crisis You’ve Never Heard About—And How to Solve It
The Oral Nicotine Commission Report (2024): “Transforming Oral Health for all: The case for Tobacco Harm Reduction”, examines the urgent…
ahra_admin4 December 2024
Revolutionising Africa’s Fight Against Smoking: A New Approach
Tobacco use continues to claim countless lives across Africa, with Nigeria and Kenya alone losing 38,851 people annually to smoking-related…
ahra_admin19 November 2024
Exploring the Power of Tobacco Harm Reduction in South Africa: Webinar Recap with Kurt Yeo and Martin Cullip
We recently hosted an enlightening webinar on Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) with two leading voices in the field, Kurt Yeo…
ahra_admin13 November 2024
Lung Cancer Awareness Month: Understanding Smoking, Nicotine and Cancer Risks
Nicotine is the primary addictive substance in cigarettes. Although it plays a key role in sustaining smoking habits, some experts…
ahra_admin7 November 2024
CoffeeChat with Joseph Magero | Navigating Tobacco Policy in Egypt and Across Africa
In our latest CoffeeChat episode, Jessica Perkins, Bryan Steenkamp, and Joseph Magero explore recent shifts in tobacco regulation across Africa,…
ahra_admin30 October 2024
Rethinking Harm Reduction: Beyond Drugs and Tobacco
At the New Approaches Conference, Dr. Jindrich Vobořil challenged the audience to rethink harm reduction, moving beyond its traditional focus…
ahra_admin24 October 2024
A Matter of Dignity: Dr. Denzil L. Douglas Speaks About the Role of Tobacco Harm Reduction for Governments, Organisations and Individuals
How Reduced Harm Products Can Help Save Lives Around the World The 2024 New Approaches Conference, also known as the…
ahra_admin16 October 2024
World Mental Health Day: Integrating Mental Health Support with Tobacco Harm Reduction
World Mental Health Day, observed on 10 October every year, provides an opportunity to draw attention to Africa’s large and…
ahra_admin10 October 2024
World Heart Day 2024: Reducing Smoking’s Impact Through Harm Reduction
World Heart Day, observed annually on September 29th, emphasises the importance of preventive measures and lifestyle changes to combat cardiovascular…
ahra_admin1 October 2024
World Lung Day – The Role of Tobacco Harm Reduction in Protecting Lung Health
World Lung Day, marked on September 25th each year, is an essential medium to emphasise healthy lungs and the pressing…
ahra_admin25 September 2024
How Can Innovative Harm-Reduction Strategies Save 280,000 Lives in Czechia by 2060?
Given the ceaseless health crises brought on by combustion worldwide, the need for solution-driven innovations has never been more urgent.…
ahra_admin23 September 2024
SWEDEN ‘WAY AHEAD’ AS EC SETS SMOKE-FREE 2040 GOAL
STOCKHOLM, Friday 20 September - Leading international health experts today backed the European Commission’s call for a tobacco-free generation by…
ahra_admin20 September 2024
CoffeeChat with Joseph Magero: Denying access to safer alternatives for smokers struggling to quit.
As Kenya moves forward with the current Tobacco Control Bill, access to safer alternatives for Kenyans who want to quit…
ahra_admin13 September 2024
Canada’s Nicotine Pouch Ban Is ‘Deadly Error Defying Science’, Say Health Experts
STOCKHOLM, 28 August - INTERNATIONAL health experts have criticised Canada’s new laws restricting the sale of nicotine pouches as a…
ahra_admin30 August 2024
Tobacco Harm Reduction Could Save 880,000 Lives Across Malaysia and Uzbekistan, Says New Report
Four Key Actions That Will Help Save 880,000 Lives in Malaysia and Uzbekistan A new report on Malaysia and Uzbekistan…
ahra_admin26 August 2024
Kenya’s Senate Seeking Submissions of Memoranda for a Bill to Amend Regulations of Tobacco and Nicotine Products
The principal object of the Bill is to amend the Tobacco Control Act, to make further provisions for the regulation…
ahra_admin16 August 2024
National Women’s Day: Women’s Health in South Africa and The Role of Women in Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocacy
On 9th August, South Africa celebrates its annual National Women’s Day. This day is surrounded by the nation’s National Women’s…
ahra_admin8 August 2024
Why Flavors Play a Vital Role In Cessation for Adult Vapers
A multidimensional review of a report by a renowned cardiologist on how flavours in tobacco harm reduction can save lives…
ahra_admin7 August 2024
World Brain Day: Cognitive Health, Smoking And Nicotine
On World Brain Day 2024, smokers are being encouraged to quit smoking to reduce their risk of developing dementia. Cigarette…
ahra_admin22 July 2024
Nelson Mandela Day 2024: Making A Difference with Harm Reduction
The 2024 theme, "It's still in our hands to combat poverty and inequality," resonates deeply with Mandela's lifelong commitment to…
ahra_admin18 July 2024
World Population Day 2024: Urgent Need for Smoking Interventions for Africa’s Growing Population
As the United Nations prepares to observe this year’s World Population Day (July 11), the demographics of low—and middle-income countries…
ahra_admin10 July 2024
Smoke Free New Zealand Report: Lessons from New Zealand’s success
African countries inarguably need to emulate New Zealand to become smoke-free in the shortest time possible. New Zealand’s smoking cessation…
ahra_admin26 June 2024
Embrace Harm Reduction On This Year’s World Drug Day
Support Don’t Punish, a worldwide campaign marked on World Drug Day every 26th June, is commemorated to strengthen action and…
ahra_admin25 June 2024
Addressing the Smoking Epidemic in the Middle East: The Middle East Tobacco Report and the Case for Tobacco Harm Reduction
A Lifesaving Strategy for Pakistan, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The Middle East Tobacco Report, June…
ahra_admin25 June 2024
The Intersection of Youth Day and Human Rights
Commemorating Youth Day: Addressing human rights and Harm reduction for South African youth amidst drug abuse and discriminatory practices. On…
ahra_admin14 June 2024
Egypt Lifts Ban on Vaping: What This Will Mean for Their Smokers
There are approximately 13.9 million current smokers in Egypt, with 61,295 people dying every year due to tobacco smoking in…
ahra_admin7 June 2024
World No Tobacco Day 2024 — Drive Innovation To Lower Smoking Rates
Every year, on 31 May, we mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) to highlight tobacco use's health and other risks…
ahra_admin31 May 2024
Separating Fact from Fiction: Debunking Four Popular Misconceptions About Vaping
Understanding the reality of e-cigarettes instead of the myths that surround them is crucial in understanding the potential of harm…
ahra_admin24 May 2024
Mental Health Awareness Week: Smoking and Mental Health
Mental Health Awareness Week allows us to pause and reflect on our mental health and the mental health of our…
ahra_admin17 May 2024
Introduction to the Report: No Smoke, Less Harm
Globally, tobacco use severely impacts public health, necessitating the development of innovative strategies to negate its detrimental effects. Sweden stands…
ahra_admin15 May 2024
Opinion: Kenya’s Graphic Health Warnings on Nicotine Products — A Call for Science-Based Differentiation
The Ministry of Health's initiative to require graphic health warnings on tobacco and nicotine products is laudable for its intent…
ahra_admin30 April 2024
Sweden’s Reduction in Snus Tax Sets Example in Public Health
The Swedish government announced 1 November 2024 as the proposed effective date for its reduced tax on alternative nicotine products.…
ahra_admin26 April 2024
Legislation and Policy Impact on Indigenous Communities
Indigenous people in low and middle-income countries experience an alarmingly high burden of smoking-related morbidity and mortality, with tobacco use…
ahra_admin19 April 2024
Embrace Nicotine Alternatives to Save 100 Million Lives
“Saving lives requires bold action. Let us unite in our commitment to a smoke-free future – one where harm reduction…
ahra_admin10 April 2024
World Health Day 2024: Health And Human Rights
The World Health Organization (WHO) was established on April 7, 1949, and the date of its establishment is commemorated annually…
ahra_admin5 April 2024
How Reduced-Risk Alternatives Can Ease Smoking Effects in Kenya
Kenya has a problem with cigarette smoking. Too many smokers are dying from smoking-related diseases as smokers repeatedly try—but fail—to…
ahra_admin28 March 2024
World TB Day: Integrating Harm Reduction Strategies to Combat TB
World TB Day, observed each year on March 24, serves as a reminder that we cannot achieve the urgent goal…
ahra_admin22 March 2024
An Appeal for Human Rights in Tobacco Legislation: The Case of Dr Kgosi Letlape
In a recent public hearing, Dr Kgosi Letlape, an ophthalmologist and chairman of the Africa Harm Reduction Alliance (AHRA), spoke…
ahra_admin20 March 2024
Is Pharmaceutical-Grade Nicotine Safe?
Pharmaceutical-grade nicotine is used in nicotine patches, nicotine sprays, nicotine pouches, and nicotine gum formulations in treating nicotine dependence to…
ahra_admin19 March 2024
Exploring A Safer Alternative: What Are the Benefits of Synthetic Nicotine?
When looking at the nicotine products available in today’s market, no discussion is complete without including pharmaceutical-grade synthetic nicotine. Since…
ahra_admin8 March 2024
Advocates for public health push governments to adopt Sweden’s smoke-free policies
22 February 2024, Stockholm, Sweden – Following the WHO's disregard for the Swedish narrative during its Tenth Conference of the…
ahra_admin29 February 2024
The Role of Tobacco Harm Reduction in preventing loss of life in South Africa
Outlining the potential effect that harm reduction policies can have on tobacco-related deaths by looking at four lower and middle-income…
ahra_admin22 February 2024
COP 10’s Missed Opportunity To Accelerate A Reduction In Smoking Deaths
This Year at the COP10, over 1,000 delegates came together to make critical decisions to further strengthen and support global…
ahra_admin21 February 2024
Solutions for Life Expectancy, Causes of Death, and Tobacco Consumption in Kazakhstan
As part of a recently published report focusing on the potential positive effects of harm reduction policies on tobacco-related deaths…
ahra_admin20 February 2024
World Cancer Day 2024: Mounting Need for Innovative Strategies
Ahead of this Year’s World Cancer Day, which was commemorated on February 4, the World Health Organization (WHO)’s cancer agency,…
ahra_admin19 February 2024
Transforming Tomorrow: Advancements in Tobacco Control in Bangladesh
A recent report focusing on averting tobacco-related deaths highlights Bangladesh as a case study that demonstrated the life-saving potential of…
ahra_admin18 February 2024
Three Steps to Help Pakistan Save 1.2 Million Lives
Regarding efforts against smoking, Pakistan has embraced several WHO-recommended measures. Large health warnings on items, a ban on national television,…
ahra_admin2 February 2024
Unraveling the Ineffectiveness of Bans and the Case for Alternative Approaches
It has long been the belief of policymakers in sub-Saharan Africa that it’s the Government’s role to ensure the general…
ahra_admin17 January 2024
Challenging the New Year’s Resolution: Is Quitting Smoking Achievable?
As 2023 draws to a close, many Africans will make New Year’s resolutions for a healthier 2024. Quitting tobacco is…
ahra_admin14 December 2023
Key Considerations when looking at Nicotine Pouches vs. Vaping
In the quest for healthier alternatives to traditional smoking, both vaping and nicotine pouches have emerged as popular choices. The…
ahra_admin8 December 2023
A Focus on Nicotine Education During COPD Awareness Month
World COPD Day is an annual event held on the third Wednesday of November. It's an initiative organized by the…
ahra_admin15 November 2023
Takeaways from Sweden’s Smoke-Free Society: An International Survey
Smoke-Free Sweden travelled the world to interact with international experts in the lead-up to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control's…
ahra_admin9 November 2023
Press Release: Lives Saved by adopting Sweden’s smoke-free strategy
More than 2.5 million lives could be saved in four LMICs countries by adopting Sweden’s smoke-free strategy – major new…
ahra_admin25 October 2023
Nicotine Pouches in Africa: A Vital Lifeline in the Fight Against Smoking
Africa is a continent of vibrant cultures, diverse traditions, and unique challenges. Among these challenges is the persistently high rate…
ahra_admin24 October 2023
Stoptober: Commit to Quit Smoking This October!
"Stoptober" is a public health campaign that encourages people to quit smoking for the entire month of October. The campaign…
ahra_admin2 October 2023
The Effect of Smoke-free Products Being Accessible
Although global health’s goal is a smoke-free world by 2040, Sweden is the only country about to achieve an adult…
ahra_admin29 September 2023
Does Vaping Cause Popcorn Lung?
"Popcorn lung" also known as bronchiolitis obliterans, is a serious and irreversible lung disease that can result from exposure to…
ahra_admin21 September 2023
Biomarkers and its use in Tobacco Control
A new research paper is challenging a long-standing belief in the tobacco control community. For too long, potentially less harmful…
ahra_admin12 September 2023
International Day for People of African Descent
The International Day for People of African Descent, observed on 31 August, is an opportunity to acknowledge the important contribution…
ahra_admin8 September 2023
Excluding Evolution in Africa – My takeaways on Vape Con, South Africa, 2023
The landscape of tobacco consumption and harm reduction has been evolving rapidly in recent years, and South Africa is no…
ahra_admin6 September 2023
New Tobacco Bill Will Cost Mzansi Lives and Money
Smoking prevalence in South Africa is extremely high and has shown little decline in the last decade. This is a…
ahra_admin3 August 2023
Tobacco Harm Reduction Can Save Lives in South Africa – Asanda Gcoyi
For the Tobacco Harm Reduction Summit organized by the Africa Harm Reduction Alliance (AHRA) in Johannesburg, South Africa, AHRA recorded…
ahra_admin2 August 2023
Research Appreciation Day: Why Evidence-Based Approach for Smoking Cessation is Needed
Research appreciation day (5th July), is an annual awareness day that aims to appreciate the hard work of health researchers…
ahra_admin10 July 2023
South Africa’s Youth Day – Preventing Youth Vaping Uptake
Youth Day is a significant commemorative event in South Africa annually on 16 June. It honours the country's youth's bravery and…
ahra_admin23 June 2023
Tobacco Harm Reduction Seminar in Brazil: A Comprehensive Discussion
São Paulo, 11 May 2023 – Specialists from fields such as public health, academia and government gathered for the South…
ahra_admin9 June 2023
World No Tobacco Day: Sweden’s Experience and Lessons for Africa
World No Tobacco Day is upon us again, seeking to advise, inspire and support smokers to quit their deadly habit.…
ahra_admin31 May 2023
Outdated, Short-sighted and Unscientific Tobacco Bill Will Cost Lives, Say Experts
The new Tobacco & Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill to be presented to the Parliamentary health committee tomorrow is outdated,…
ahra_admin30 May 2023
Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) Summit Africa 2023
On 28 April 2023, a panel of experts gathered in Johannesburg for the Tobacco Harm Reduction Summit Africa 2023 to…
ahra_admin25 May 2023
Quit Like Sweden To Save Millions Of Smokers’ Lives, Experts Urge SA Lawmakers Johannesburg 1 May 2023
LEADING international public health experts have urged South African lawmakers to follow the pioneering example of ‘Smoke Free Sweden’ to…
ahra_admin3 May 2023
