Across the U.S., tens of millions of smokers face a daily struggle to kick their deadly habit. Each traditional, combustible cigarette smoked poses multiple health risks ranging from lung cancer to heart disease to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Fortunately, smokers now have access to reduced risk technologies such as tobacco heating systems. Now, after more than three years of dithering, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed a tobacco harm reduction product called “IQOS” (which heats tobacco instead of burning it) to be marketed toward consumers as having “reduced exposure” to harmful chemicals. While this a large leap forward for consumer access to one healthier smoking alternative, there's far more work to be done. For the sake of millions of smokers, the FDA must permit the sale and marketing of other reduced risk products such as vapes. Countless lives hang in the balance.
