Reduce Risk Of Harm Research Articles

How do Risk Perceptions Drive Smokers to Completely Switch to a Smoke-Free Tobacco Product (IQOS ™)? A Four-Country Cohort Study

SUMMARY Background The perceived reduced formation of harmful chemicals (RF) or perceived reduced risk of harm (RH) of a smoke-free tobacco product relative to combustible tobacco products may influence its acceptance and use patterns among adult smokers and therefore impact public health. We analyzed whether and how the RF and/or RH of the heated tobacco product (HTP) IQOS ™ impacted “exclusive” (100%) IQOS ™ use in Japan, Italy, Germany, and Russia. Methods Between 2016 and 2020, adult participants from longitudinal IQOS ™ user cohorts in Japan (N = 6257), Italy (N = 8137), Germany (N = 8474), and Russia (N = 7231) repeatedly indicated the reasons for using IQOS ™, including reasons referring to RF and RH, during their first 48 weeks in the cohort. Logistic and Cox regression were used to analyze the relationships between RF and/or RH indications for using IQOS ™ and exclusive or stable exclusive IQOS ™ use. Results At week 48, exclusive IQOS ™ use in Japan (odds ratio [OR] = 1.89), Italy (OR = 3.35), Germany (OR = 3.48), and Russia (OR = 3.05) was more likely among participants who more frequently (highest vs. lowest category of number of RF and/or RH indications) indicated RF and/or RH as a reason for using IQOS ™. In Japan, where other HTPs were also marketed, this was also true for the overall HTP category. Also, in Japan where RF and RH could be indicated separately as reasons for using IQOS ™, indicating RH (OR = 2.92) compared to RF (OR = 1.81) resulted in a greater likelihood of exclusive IQOS ™ use within the highest category of RF or RH indications. In Japan (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.74), Italy (HR = 0.80), Germany (HR = 0.72), and Russia (HR = 0.85), IQOS ™ users who indicated RF and/or RH as a reason for using IQOS ™ had a lower risk of becoming a stable nonexclusive than stable exclusive IQOS ™ user as well as a 10–25% lower number of weeks until reaching stable exclusive IQOS ™ use. Conclusions Perceived reduced formation of harmful chemicals (RF) or perceived reduced risk of harm (RH) of IQOS ™ have a significant impact on IQOS ™ users’ switching to exclusive IQOS ™ use and the acceleration of stable exclusive IQOS ™ use. This may also be true for the overall HTP category. Moreover, perceived RH of IQOS ™ seems to be a stronger driver for exclusive IQOS ™ use than perceived RF. [Contrib. Tob. Nicotine Res. 32 (2023) 50–64]

MASSACHUSETTS AND ENERGY S ECURITY: W HAT O NE STATE IS D OING TO ENHANCE SECURITY THROUGH D ISTRIBUTED G ENERATION

The events of September 11, 2001, have indelibly marked require-ments for a focus on energy generation and use strategies to protectpublic interests and manage emergency events. Security experts haveconcluded that current electrical systems could be vulnerable to conven-tional military, nuclear, and terror attacks. Disbursed, renewable anddomestic supplies of fuels and electricity can be used to reduce theserisks1 .As part of a larger state strategy to prepare for and respond toharmful events, Massachusetts is undertaking activities to reduce risk ofharm to critical public facilities by considering distributed generation.The state’s clean energy fund has begun an initiative to consider fuelcells and solar technologies as part of emergency planning and response.The early lessons from that effort indicate a strong willingness and needfor distributed generation but a lack of resources to implement it. Theselessons and plans for future activities are shared in this report.