What is “tobacco-free” nicotine?

The tobacco industry is promoting tobacco products with “tobacco-free” claims – but this term may be misleading. These claims are used to describe products made with nicotine created in a lab (i.e., “tobacco-free” nicotine, also known as synthetic nicotine or non-tobacco nicotine), or products that contain no tobacco leaf (i.e., “tobacco-free” or “tobacco leaf-free”). These claims may increase appeal and use among young people, even though all products labeled as “tobacco-free” contain nicotine which is harmful to young people in any form.

READ MORE ►

How communicating with empathy drives smoking cessation outcomes

Empathy can be powerful in any type of setting. Defined as the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing, communicating with empathy can be especially powerful with driving smoking cessation outcomes. Unlike sympathy—which is similar but puts a degree of separation between people— empathy is about fostering connection in a way that’s non-judgmental and meaningful. Using this approach for tobacco cessation is highly effective, in part because those who use tobacco often come into a cessation program feeling stigmatized.

READ MORE ►