Smokers have long been stigmatised as individuals who are a burden to society. Often depicted as individuals who lack self-control, their behaviour is frequently condemned, and the harm that smoking does to their health is ignored.
This negative perception of smokers not only leads to discrimination but also perpetuates the idea that smokers do not deserve access to the same level of healthcare as non-smokers.
It is time to change this narrative and view smoking through a different lens.
A human rights-based approach (HRBA) to reducing harm provides a framework for upholding and advancing the right to health.
According to the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
This right includes the right to control one’s health and body, which requires access to a range of goods, services, and conditions necessary for the realisation of the highest attainable standard of health.
For someone who smokes tobacco, this includes access to alternatives to cigarettes, apart from cessation support programs.
The use of less harmful alternatives, such as heated tobacco products, nicotine pouchesand e-cigarettes has been shown to significantly reduce the harm caused by burning tobacco.
While these products are not completely risk-free, they have been found to be less harmful alternatives to cigarettes and can be effective tools for adult smokers who would otherwise continue smoking.
It is essential to recognize that the stigmatisation of smokers is not only harmful but also counterproductive.
A human rights-based approach recognizes that smokers are entitled to the same level of healthcare as non-smokers, and it is our responsibility to provide them with access to the correct tools.
This approach not only benefits smokers but also society as a whole by reducing the burden of smoking-related illnesses on healthcare systems and improving public health outcomes.
It is crucial to change our attitude towards smokers and recognize their right to better options for their health.
The adoption of a human rights-based approach to reducing harm offers a roadmap to accomplish this objective, underscoring the significance of affording smokers’ access to less harmful alternatives
