https://farsalinos.github.io/en/tags/policy/Recent content in Policy on FarsalinosHugo -- gohugo.ioen© 2026 K. Farsalinos, MD, MPH, PhD | Science & Public HealthSat, 12 Sep 2026 11:32:43 +0300https://farsalinos.github.io/en/science-deep-dives/srnt-rec2026-en/Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://farsalinos.github.io/en/science-deep-dives/srnt-rec2026-en/<p>The international Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) recently <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2852321" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">published in JAMA</a> its recommendations for U.S. clinicians on e-cigarettes and smoking cessation. Here, I examine the scientific, clinical, and ethical foundations behind these guidelines. They mark a landmark shift toward active harm reduction for adult smokers in the United States, weighing robust clinical trial evidence against complex public health values.</p> <h2 class="relative group">Why were new recommendations for e-cigarettes &amp; smoking cessation needed? <div id="why-were-new-recommendations-for-e-cigarettes--smoking-cessation-needed" class="anchor"></div> <span class="absolute top-0 w-6 transition-opacity opacity-0 -start-6 not-prose group-hover:opacity-100 select-none"> <a class="text-primary-300 dark:text-neutral-700 !no-underline" href="#why-were-new-recommendations-for-e-cigarettes--smoking-cessation-needed" aria-label="Anchor">#</a> </span> </h2> <p>Combustible tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., claiming nearly <strong>500,000 lives</strong> each year. Although over 68% of adult smokers wanted to quit in 2022 and more than half attempted to do so, <strong>fewer than 10% succeeded</strong>. This high failure rate highlights the need to broaden the clinical toolkit with alternative strategies.</p>https://farsalinos.github.io/en/news/ukrules-vaping-en/Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://farsalinos.github.io/en/news/ukrules-vaping-en/<p>The UK government has published new guidance setting out a significant overhaul of the rules governing the sale of vaping and nicotine products across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The changes, issued by the Department of Health and Social Care, take effect on <strong>29 October 2026</strong> and mark one of the most sweeping updates to nicotine retail law in the UK to date.</p> <h2 class="relative group">A single, UK-wide age of sale <div id="a-single-uk-wide-age-of-sale" class="anchor"></div> <span class="absolute top-0 w-6 transition-opacity opacity-0 -start-6 not-prose group-hover:opacity-100 select-none"> <a class="text-primary-300 dark:text-neutral-700 !no-underline" href="#a-single-uk-wide-age-of-sale" aria-label="Anchor">#</a> </span> </h2> <p>The headline change is a unified minimum age of sale of 18 for <em>all</em> vaping and nicotine products, closing gaps that previously existed between nations and product types. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, age restrictions had only applied to nicotine-containing vapes; from October, they will extend to non-nicotine vapes as well. Scotland already restricted both nicotine and non-nicotine vapes, but will now also bring nicotine products more broadly into scope — including nicotine pouches, nicotine strips and nicotine pearls, along with synthetic nicotine.</p>