FPMPAM: Consider tobacco harm reduction for smoking cessation

We cannot discount tobacco harm reduction strategies. Switching to less harmful alternatives can provide smokers a pathway towards quitting cigarettes,’ said FPMPAM president Dr Steven Chow.

TO quit smoking “cold turkey” may be ideal but often it is extremely difficult. As such, the Government should consider supporting a tobacco harm reduction programme aimed at getting people to switch to less harmful alternatives with the intention to quit completely, says the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM).

“Most smokers who have tried to quit have attempted the cold turkey method at some point. However, as a method for long-term smoking cessation, it has the lowest success rate,” said FPMPAM president Dr Steven Chow.