Korean study finds more smokers switch to heated tobacco products

Anton Israel, President of the Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines (NCUP)

A study by researchers in South Korea suggests that switching to heated tobacco products (HTPs) can significantly increase the likelihood of smokers quitting smoking entirely.

HTPs are smoke-free products designed to eliminate combustion in nicotine delivery. The US Food and Drug Administration said tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals. “This mix of chemicals—not nicotine—is what causes serious disease and death in tobacco users.”

Unlike traditional cigarettes, which burn tobacco, HTPs heat the tobacco, resulting in reduced levels of harmful chemicals compared to cigarette smoke.

The study, conducted by experts at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, also found no evidence to support concerns that HTPs serve as a gateway to smoking.

The study, using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, revealed that 99.4 percent of HTP users either switched from traditional cigarettes or are dual users, with only 0.6 percent being new smokers.

This innovative technology offers an alternative for adult smokers who might otherwise continue using conventional cigarettes.

Smoking-related diseases are responsible for over 8 million deaths each year, highlighting the urgent need for safer nicotine delivery methods.

Anton Israel, president of the Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines (NCUP), said the Korean study demonstrates how technology can mitigate the risks associated with nicotine consumption. “Nicotine isn’t the problem; it’s the way it’s delivered through combustion. Smoke-free products like HTPs eliminate the harm from smoke,” said Israel.

Traditional cigarettes burn tobacco at high temperatures, producing smoke and ash that contain toxicants. In contrast, HTPs heat tobacco below the combustion point, releasing a nicotine-containing vapor instead of smoke.

Studies have shown that these smoke-free products emit aerosols or vapors with 95 percent fewer harmful chemicals than the smoke produced by traditional cigarettes. Israel said smoke-free products like HTPs, along with vapes and oral nicotine pouches, allow smokers to drastically reduce their exposure to toxic chemicals.

In the Philippines, nearly a million former smokers have already transitioned away from smoking with the help of smoke-free products. The country has also enacted legislation to regulate these innovative products, ensuring they remain inaccessible to minors.

The Korean study, which surveyed 4,514 adults, also concluded that adolescents are more likely to start smoking with traditional cigarettes rather than HTPs. Among the study’s participants, 2,356 were non-smokers, 1,316 were traditional cigarette smokers, and 842 were HTP users.

The research also highlights that adult females, individuals with higher education levels, those with children, office workers, and those with heightened health concerns were more likely to switch from traditional cigarettes to HTPs.

Adult females aged 20 to 39 were more inclined to switch to HTPs, regardless of income, while males over 40 were more likely to adopt HTPs if they had higher incomes.

Since the introduction of heated tobacco products in Korea in 2017, their market share has grown significantly—from 2.2 percent of total tobacco sales in the first year to 12 percent in the first half of 2021. The shift from traditional cigarettes could have public health benefits, as scientific studies suggest that the harmful effects of smoking primarily stem from the combustion process, which HTPs avoid.

Researchers said the rapid adoption of HTPs in Korea presents an opportunity to study the reasons behind the switch.

These insights could be crucial for policymakers when formulating tobacco regulatory laws, including those related to taxation and market regulation.

READ: House passes on final reading bill regulating vapes, heated tobacco products