Colin Mendelsohn’s take-home messages from GFN 23

The Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN) is an annual conference that brings together experts and stakeholders from around the world to discuss the latest research and developments in the field of nicotine and tobacco harm reduction, including vapes. This year’s conference, GFN23, took place in Warsaw, Poland from June 17-19, and we are proud to support this important event.

The GFN conference provides a unique opportunity for researchers, policymakers, and advocates to come together to share knowledge and ideas, and to work towards a common goal of reducing the harm caused by tobacco use. This year’s conference promises to be particularly exciting, with a focus on the theme of “Rethinking Nicotine.”

One of the key speakers at this year’s conference is Colin Mendelsohn, an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. In a recent blog post, Mendelsohn highlighted the importance of the GFN conference and the need for continued research and advocacy in the field of nicotine and tobacco harm reduction.

Mendelsohn notes that despite the many advances in tobacco control in recent years, smoking remains a leading cause of preventable death and disease worldwide. He argues that while traditional tobacco control measures such as taxation, advertising bans, and smoke-free laws have been effective in reducing smoking rates, they are not enough to address the complex challenges posed by tobacco use.

According to Mendelsohn, one of the most promising approaches to reducing the harm caused by tobacco use is through the use of nicotine and tobacco harm reduction products such as vapes, snus, and heat-not-burn devices. These products provide an alternative to traditional cigarettes that delivers nicotine without many of the harmful chemicals and toxins found in cigarette smoke.

Mendelsohn notes that while these products are not without risks, they are significantly less harmful than traditional cigarettes and have the potential to save millions of lives if they are widely adopted as a smoking cessation tool. However, he argues that there is still much work to be done in terms of research, regulation, and public education to ensure that these products are used safely and effectively.

In his post “My take-home messages from the GFN 23 conference” Colin notes his top 9 take-away messages and why he is optimistic about the future:

• Australia is a laughing stock
• We have enough evidence
• Flawed anti-vaping science
• What happened to ‘scientific debate’?
• The foundations of the anti-vaping case are shaky
• Vaping is protecting children
• Censorship by medical journals
• The future of nicotine
• The role of consumers

Please follow the link above to read more on these bullet points.

Read more on why Australian regulators can’t afford for people to stop smoking and start vaping.

The GFN conference provides an important platform for researchers, policymakers, and advocates to come together to share knowledge and ideas about how best to promote and regulate these products. Mendelsohn notes that the conference is particularly important for those working in countries where tobacco control policies are less developed or where harm reduction approaches are not yet widely accepted.

In addition to discussing the latest research and developments in the field of nicotine and tobacco harm reduction, the GFN conference also provides an opportunity for advocates to share their stories and experiences. Mendelsohn notes that hearing from those who have successfully quit smoking using harm reduction products can be a powerful tool for changing public perceptions and promoting wider adoption of these products.

Mendelsohn also highlights the important role that consumer advocacy groups play in promoting harm reduction approaches to tobacco use. He notes that these groups are often the most effective advocates for harm reduction products, as they are able to speak from personal experience and can provide a powerful counter-narrative to the often-negative media coverage of these products.

Overall, Mendelsohn’s blog post highlights the importance of the GFN conference and the need for continued research, advocacy, and education in the field of nicotine and tobacco harm reduction. He notes that while there are still many challenges to be overcome, there is also much reason for hope and optimism.

As supporters of the GFN conference, we share Mendelsohn’s belief that harm reduction approaches to tobacco use have the potential to save millions of lives and reduce the burden of disease caused by smoking. We believe that events like GFN23 are essential for bringing together experts and stakeholders from around the world to share knowledge and ideas, and to work towards a common goal of reducing the harm caused by tobacco use.

We encourage anyone with an interest in nicotine and tobacco harm reduction to attend the GFN conferences in Warsaw, Poland, each June. Whether you are a researcher, policymaker, advocate, or simply someone who is interested in learning more about this important topic, there is much to be gained from attending this event.

Together, we can work towards a world where tobacco-related disease and death are a thing of the past, and where harm reduction approaches to tobacco use are widely accepted and supported. We look forward to seeing you at GFN 24 in Warsaw.