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 countries (LMICs), a recent report has disclosed striking insights on the potential to save lives through its proposed strategy. Using South Africa as one of the examples in the four case studies, the report provides essential ideas for the future landscape of tobacco control and public health within the country.

In a survey conducted in 2020, it was revealed that 20.2% of South African adults engage in tobacco smoking. Additionally, heart disease and strokes, both of which are associated with smoking, rank as the second and third leading causes of mortality in the country. The projected trends from the World Health Organization (WHO) for 2025, indicate that there is no anticipated decline in the smoking rate within South Africa.

To illustrate the effects of a harm reduction strategy, the report presents three distinct scenarios. The initial scenario depicts conventional tobacco control, wherein policies and interventions persist at their present scope and pace. In the second scenario, there is a heightened application of tobacco harm reduction (THR) policies and greater accessibility of THR products, leading to a corresponding rise in the number of lives saved. The report then introduces a concluding scenario in which tobacco control is coupled with not only an increase in tobacco harm reduction (THR) but also enhanced access to diagnostics and treatment. This integrated approach further diminishes the projected number of tobacco-related deaths, potentially saving 320,000 lives in South Africa alone.

For additional insights on the impact of harm reduction on preventing deaths from tobacco-related causes, read the full report.