Harm reduction approaches are now an established and fundamental part of the response to drug use. While tobacco harm reduction has an expanding evidence base it is often viewed in narrow terms, as if people who smoke exist in a discrete silo.
This has meant the potential of THR to help communities with high smoking prevalence, such as people who use drugs, remains underexplored – despite the evident harms they experience and their impact on health outcomes.
This session brings a drug harm reduction perspective to THR, drawing on frontline experience across a range of environments and sectors, seeking to highlight what works in terms of harm reduction for individuals and communities, plus opportunities for further development.
Jul 6
1 hr 32 min
Can we rethink nicotine addiction? Is the word "addiction" helping—or hurting—the conversation?
In this episode of THR Unfiltered, recorded during the Global Forum on Nicotine 2026 #GFN26 we speak with behavioral scientist Dr. Arielle Selya about the science behind nicotine dependence, addiction, and tobacco harm reduction.
The discussion explores why researchers often prefer the term "dependence" over "addiction," how these concepts differ in scientific and clinical contexts, and why language matters when discussing people who use nicotine.
Jul 3
26 min
The panel will discuss the various forms of prohibition, examine the main objections to prohibition, and ask under what circumstances, if any, prohibitions are justified. We consider the likely consequences of prohibition, especially in the counterintuitive case where prohibition applies to products safer than the market norm. What are the merits of two common strategies for addressing the costs and consequences: a stronger enforcement approach or removing the underlying economic incentives? We will conclude with an engaging finale, in which the panel and audience are asked to provide unwanted advice to the Australian government, Michael Bloomberg and the WHO.
Jul 1
1 hr 25 min
The session will explore the economic dimensions of prohibition through a political economy lens. Drawing on data and insights from multiple markets, it considers how regulatory actions may influence consumer behaviour, demand across product categories and public perceptions. It will also examine potential fiscal effects and the dynamics of illicit trade in response to prohibition. Bringing together policy, data, and market insight, this session explores how prohibition shapes real-world outcomes for consumers, governments, and public health.
Jun 29
1 hr 29 min
Over seven out of every ten vapes sold worldwide now come from the illicit market. Worth an astounding $47 billion USD annually, the global black market for vaping products accounts for 76% of all vapes sold, dwarfing the legal trade and proving restrictions largely ineffective. Shot on location at GFN 2026 in Warsaw, Poland, Shane MacGuill of Euromonitor International explains how taxes, restrictions, product bans, and regulatory barriers are driving consumers into illicit markets around the world.
Featuring:
SHANE MACGUILL
Global Lead, Nicotine & Cannabis
Euromonitor International
euromonitor.com
@ShaneMacGuill
Jun 26
27 min
Safer nicotine products are increasingly popular for assisting those quitting smoking. Evidence continues to support the game-changing effect this can have on individual and community health. Some questions emerge from this. What should be the role of public health in this? Why do some public health professionals continue to ignore or dismiss the emerging evidence? Does ideology cloud judgements? Should personal choice and freedom be a priority? What legitimate role is there for regulation in this area?
Jun 24
1 hr 21 min
How does prohibition of safer alternatives square with the Hippocratic oath? What are the ethics of accepting smokers' lives and wellbeing as collateral damage, in pursuit of the war on the nicotine industries? Why is giving alternatives to people who misuse substances viewed differently to permitting people who smoke access to less harmful alternatives? Supported by evidence from work successfully debunking bad science, including exposing research claims correlating viral TikTok videos about nicotine pouches to sales. Shouldn't we allow people to make informed judgements about their behaviour and their health?
Jun 22
1 hr 32 min
THR Unfiltered #1 | Navigating the prohibitionist landscape of THR in the States by GFN.TV
Jun 19
23 min
What happens when governments ignore science and choose outright prohibition over evidence-based public health? In this panel discussion, international experts and harm-reduction advocates break down the global shift toward nicotine prohibition and the severe, unintended consequences of banning safer nicotine alternatives.
Jun 17
1 hr 25 min
In this compelling presentation, Dr. Alex Wodak explores the inevitable and rapid shift from combustible tobacco to safer nicotine alternatives. Moving beyond just the obvious health benefits, Dr. Wodak dives deep into the broader impact of these disruptive technologies and outlines why harm reduction advocates are crucial in shaping future legislation.
Welcome to the "post-smoking world"—and how we navigate the transition.
In this video, you’ll learn:
- why safer nicotine products are set to completely displace smoking soon;
- the multi-layered impact of tobacco harm reduction (beyond just physical health);
- the vital role advocates play in upcoming legislative battles.
Jun 15
51 min
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