The topic of quitting the habit of smoking is a dreaded subject among smokers. We all know how hard it is for them but this also proves the importance of exposing these smokers to better alternatives out there, such as smoke-free products. This is also extremely crucial considering how big the size of the smoker population in our nation is.
ICYMI, we recently found that, through the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019, the total number of smokers is estimated to be around 4.8 million Malaysians. And from that, up to 62% of them believe that smoke-free products are actually just as bad or even worse than normal cigarettes. Additionally, 33% of the smokers also believed that there is a lack of information available for these smoke-free products.
While we admit that it should be every smoker’s goal to quit completely, we know that it is not easy to do so. Hence, we believe it’s time to start educating Malaysians by shedding light on better alternatives out there that can help smokers.
Here’s why more Malaysians should learn about smoke-free products
Many Malaysians are still not aware of the differences between normal cigarettes and smoke-free alternatives such as heated tobacco products (HTP). If this is you, don’t worry! Here’s our simple breakdown to get you up to speed:
- Combustion vs heating
Both cigarettes and HTP contain tobacco but the main difference is the act of combustion. Cigarettes burn tobacco and the temperature can reach over 800°C, causing it to release smoke and ash. Meanwhile, HTP only heats up the tobacco and the temperature does not exceed 350°C, which is scientifically proven to not be hot enough to produce smoke.
- Smoke and ash vs aerosol
Another major difference between the two is the fact that cigarettes emit smoke and ash while HTP only releases aerosol. Smoke and ash contain various harmful chemicals including carcinogens that can cause smoke-related diseases. But with HTP, produces aerosol which is composed of water, glycerin and nicotine – all of which are not the cause of smoke-related diseases.
- Passive smoking
As we know, a burned cigarette will not only harm the smoker but the smoke and ash can also affect non-smokers around them through the act of “passive smoking”. In comparison, since HTP only emits aerosol, this can eliminate a lot of risks with passive smoking and it won’t affect the health of non-smokers or even the air quality.
Based on these facts, it is certainly safe to say that smoke-free alternatives such as HTP are a much better option than normal cigarettes. It’s important to note that HTP is definitely NOT risk-free. However, it is proven to provide a 95% reduction in levels of harmful chemicals which makes it a better option for smokers as well as the people around them.
Are Malaysians aware of this alternative?
In Malaysia, it is reported that a total of 115,000 adult smokers have already made the switch to HTP. Though this number may seem like a lot, it only covers 2% of the whole smoker population. Of course, this number signifies a great start but considering the massive population that we have, we need this number to grow fast!
This is why we’re glad to see that HTPs, such as IQOS, have become more widely available in Malaysia. In fact, we heard that there is also a new product in the market, called the lil SOLID 2.0, that was released with a very reasonable price tag of RM99. This comes as great news because it has reduced the price barrier for smoke-free alternatives in the local market and it helps to make it more accessible to Malaysian smokers.
Of course, it goes without saying that HTP is still not risk-free and the best option of all is to quit smoking entirely but as we’ve mentioned, it’s not as easy as it seems! This is why HTP can provide a better alternative for smokers who don’t want to quit but they can eliminate most of the risks that come with continued smoking.
Apart from that, all of us should also start doing our part in spreading the word about the benefits of smoke-free alternatives to the smokers out there. One of the easiest ways is to share this article with the smokers closest to you. If you’re feeling extra generous, you can also gift them with their first HTP, such as the lil SOLID 2.0, to inspire them to start the journey to quit.
Just know that we’re rooting for you guys in this journey, okay!
This post first appeared on WORLD OF BUZZ.
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