“Vapers and tobacco heaters are a good alternative to quit smoking.”

This Friday, the famous clinical psychologist Karl Fagerstrom Participation in XXVI Congress of the Spanish Society of Dual Pathology In Palma de Mallorca. It is an international and reference event in the field of mental health and addiction that welcomes experts from all over the world.

Fagerstrom, that is One of the world's most trusted anti-smoking voicesHe will participate in a presentation entitled “Tobacco Use Disorder as a Serious Mental Health Problem.” But before that, he found time to attend ElNacional.cat by phone

You argue that nicotine, in the long term, is no more harmful to health than other substances consumed daily.
Yes. Pure nicotine is less harmful than alcohol and as harmful as coffee.

That is, from a medical standpoint, nicotine cannot be equated with tobacco?
Exactly, pure nicotine is much less harmful than burning tobacco. For example, it is not carcinogenic or dangerous for pregnant women. The health risks of tobacco lie mainly in the approximately 70 carcinogenic substances it contains.

“Pure nicotine is less harmful than alcohol.”

If the main problem is tobacco combustion, consider tobacco heaters and vapersWho do not burn tobacco, are they a good alternative for people who want to quit smoking?
Yes vapers Tobacco heaters are considered a good alternative to quit smoking because they are less harmful than traditional cigarettes. These are products that may or may not contain nicotine, but what they definitely don't is combustion, which is really bad for health.

These devices are also effective because, unlike nicotine patches, gum or lozenges, they closely resemble the smoking process, which is more satisfying for the smoker who wants to quit smoking. That is, it replaces the habit of smoking tobacco, which other methods do not achieve in many cases.

“they vapers “Tobacco heaters are less harmful to health than traditional cigarettes.”

In the fight against smoking, you are a strong advocate for a harm reduction strategy. Can you explain what this strategy is based on and why you support it?
When you can't heal, you need to reduce damage. People who want to quit smoking should be offered less harmful alternatives such as e-cigarettes (vapers) or tobacco heaters. People who do not want to quit smoking should also be encouraged to switch to these less harmful devices.

The Spanish government plans to ban cigarette smoking vapers And tobacco heaters on the bar terraces. Do you think this is a good move?
I don't think it's a good move. I don't think it would help either to ban e-cigarettes and tobacco heaters from bar terraces. We cannot put traditional cigarettes and these devices in the same bag.

Thank you very much for your interest, Mr. Fagerstrom.