On the way to a tobacco- and nicotine-free Switzerland
The Swiss Association for Tobacco Control is the center of competence for tobacco prevention in Switzerland. As an umbrella organization for the promotion of non-smoking, it today comprises over 50 organizational members. AT Switzerland offers its members a broad network of experts and provides expertise on tobacco control and prevention. With evidence-based offers and the networking of the central actors, it is committed to a sustainably healthy and smoke-free Switzerland and at the same time offers the population a hand in quitting smoking and nicotine withdrawal.
An important field of action is the denormalization of the consumption of tobacco and nicotine products. This is because a large part of the population still regards the consumption of lethal tobacco and nicotine products as "normal". Furthermore, the protection of young people is at the center of its work and AT Switzerland would like to encourage smokers on their way to quitting smoking. Finally, AT Switzerland is very concerned to strengthen the protection of the population from passive smoke.
15.11.2021 |News
World Heart Federation calls for strict regulation of e-cigarettes
In a new policy brief, the World Heart Federation (WHF) is calling on governments to introduce stricter regulations on e-cigarettes and greater oversight of marketing and sales strategies to stop the e-cigarette epidemic.
Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, have become an increasingly popular alternative to conventional cigarettes, particularly among young people. This is primarily due to aggressive marketing strategies and misleading claims by manufacturers, which have led to a widespread belief that e-cigarettes are a healthy option compared to regular tobacco cigarettes. These claims, however, appear to ignore the growing number of studies that link e-cigarettes to a range of health issues, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
The long-term health effects of e-cigarettes remain largely unknown, but studies have found that e-cigarettes contain and produce dangerous substances which can affect the heart, respiratory system and brain. And while there is some evidence that vaping can help smokers quit, it has been found to have the opposite effect on non-smokers, who are more likely to start smoking after taking up vaping.
The effectiveness of e-cigarettes as smoking cessation tools has been brought into question by multiple studies, which have shown that smokers who start using e-cigarettes often become dual users of both traditional and electronic cigarettes. In fact, a growing body of research shows that e-cigarettes are unhealthy products designed to be addictive and hook first time users, particularly teenagers – a key target market for e-cigarettes manufacturers.
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Protection from second-hand smoke from your fellow human beings
The call for smoke-free indoor environments is based on clear evidence of health damage caused by passive smoking. In Switzerland, too, scientific research has demonstrated the positive health effects of legal protection against passive smoking.