Nicotine Pouches in Saudi Arabia: Early Evidence on Prevalence, Safety, and Smoking Cessation

Nicotine pouches, small tobacco-free sachets delivering nicotine orally, are emerging globally as a potential harm reduction tool. In Saudi Arabia, where smoking remains a major health burden and cultural factors shape patterns of tobacco use, new research provides the first comprehensive look at how nicotine pouches are being adopted, their perceived benefits, and the risks…

Rethinking Nicotine: Why Accurate Risk Perception Matters for Public Health

Nicotine has long been misunderstood. Decades of public health messaging, though well-intentioned, have blurred the lines between nicotine itself and the deadly effects of combustible tobacco. A recent study published by the American Psychological Association underscores how deeply these misperceptions run, and why correcting them is essential for effective harm reduction. Misperceptions That Fuel Mistrust…

Smoke-Free Products and Harm Reduction: What the Toxicology Tells Us

Despite decades of progress in tobacco control, smoking remains widespread across Europe. In countries like Germany, millions continue to smoke with little motivation to quit, leaving policymakers and scientists searching for pragmatic ways to reduce the toll of combustible tobacco. A recent article in Internal and Emergency Medicine by aerosol chemist Reinhard Niessner brings the…

Rethinking Nicotine: Modulation, Mood, and Neuroprotection via nAChRs

Despite decades of stigma, nicotine continues to reveal surprising roles in brain health through its interaction with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). From improving attention to potentially slowing neurodegeneration, new science challenges outdated assumptions—and calls for a more nuanced conversation. Cognition and Mood: Nicotine’s Modulatory Role Nicotine’s primary mechanism of action in the brain is through…

Rethinking the Role of Nicotine: A Science-Based Perspective on Harm Reduction

Nicotine has long been viewed through a narrow lens—often equated with smoking, addiction, and disease. But new research continues to challenge this oversimplification. As the global public health community confronts the rise of reduced-risk nicotine products like pouches, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco, it is vital that we separate myth from evidence in shaping responsible policy.…

Doubling Down on Nicotine Science: Springer Expands Its Focus on Smoke-Free Products

As the science around nicotine delivery evolves, so too must the platforms that publish and shape global understanding of its impacts. Springer’s Internal and Emergency Medicine journal has responded to this challenge with a bold move: the relaunch and expansion of its curated research collection under a new title—“Health Effects of E-Cigarettes, Heated Tobacco and…