Europe UK (Commonwealth Union) – A recent study, funded by Cancer Research UK and published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research, unveiled a significant surge in exclusive non-cigarette tobacco users between 2013 and September 2023. The figures soared from approximately 151,200 to around 772,800 during this period, with 18-year-olds exhibiting the most remarkable increase.
The use of cigars, cigarillos, pipes, or shisha is associated with various cancers, including lung, mouth, upper throat, oesophageal, larynx, stomach, pancreatic, bladder, and liver cancers.
The surge in non-cigarette tobacco usage could be attributed to several factors. There’s widespread concern that cigarette smoking exacerbates coronavirus symptoms, leading individuals to switch to perceived less harmful alternatives. Additionally, economic challenges may have prompted people to transition from cigarettes to more affordable options, as concluded by researchers.
Furthermore, the menthol cigarette ban implemented in May 2020 did not extend to non-cigarette tobacco products. Consequently, those inclined towards menthol flavor may have shifted to other products unaffected by the ban. Cancer Research UK underscores the importance of extending age of sale legislation to encompass all tobacco-containing products to prevent the emergence of similar regulatory loopholes in the future.
Dr. Sarah Jackson, the lead author from UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, indicated that this extensive 10-year study highlights the changing trends in non-cigarette tobacco consumption, revealing a troubling scenario. Dr. Jackson further pointed out that while cigarette smoking rates have declined, their findings indicate a significant increase in the usage of alternative smoked tobacco products, notably among the youth.
“It’s vital that smoking cessation services are adequately funded and available across the UK, so that the around 772,800 people who use non-cigarette tobacco products, and the millions who use cigarettes, are given the support they need to quit.”
The research also indicated that presently, tobacco usage results in approximately 54,300 cases of cancer annually in the UK. It stands as the sole legal consumer product that, when used as directed by the manufacturer, poses the greatest risk of mortality for its users.
