THR in South America
Latin America is a very diverse region facing many social challenges. This is reflected in policies; the same issue, e.g THR, is viewed differently. This is what “The Latin American Session” will showcase. Our speakers, Alexandro Lucian (Brazil), Alejandra Medina (Colombia), Enrique Terán (Ecuador), Zara Snapp (Mexico), Miguel Okumura (Brazil) will cover the landscape. Alexandro Lucian will elaborate on the misunderstandings or misinformation of the public about the risks of alternative nicotine products of potentially reduced risk, mainly in Brazil, but also in other Latin American countries. In this discourse, he will highlight the roles of the media, the prohibitionist organizations, the pro-THR organizations, consumers and activists and he will elaborate on the consequences for health. Alejandra Medina will discuss the case of Colombia. Following several Congress initiatives, no regulation for safer nicotine products is in place. Media and political pressures in favor of expanding the tobacco control mandate have exhausted the debate, while public policies and evidence advance in favor of the adoption of harm reduction strategies. Enrique Teran will present the case of Ecuador with respect to the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) amongst healthcare providers. Zara Snapp will explore the political environment regarding tobacco harm reduction in Mexico and discuss preliminary results from a research project underway at Instituto RIA regarding the perceptions of safety among people who use nicotine devices and the analysis of these devices within the currently illegal market. A discussion will follow with Andrzej Fal.
Chairs: Ignatios Ikonomidis & Monica Gorgulho
Speakers:
- Alexandro Lucian: The health hazards of vaping misinformation
- Miguel Okumura: Communication in times of Prohibition: Empowering consumers to accelerate vaping regulation in Brazil
- Alejandra Medina: Colombia: a back and forth of differential regulation and regulation in the framework of tobacco control
- Enrique Teran: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) in healthcare providers: The case of Ecuador
- Zara Snapp: Prohibition disguised as public health: the case of Mexico
Discussant: Andrzej Fal
Speakers
