Harm Reduction Advocacy and Exploring Strategic Objective Three of the Oral Health Report

The benefits of tobacco harm reduction on oral health were recently and thoroughly explored by a report titled Transforming Oral Health for All: The Case for Tobacco Harm Reduction. Sharing how oral diseases affect 3.5 billion people globally and the role of tobacco use in propagating such harm, the report relies on case studies and scientific research to share the oral health benefits of switching to smoke-free nicotine alternatives.

The case made in this report is further strengthened by sharing strong evidence - such as the finding that Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems are 95% less harmful than cigarettes - and elucidating the benefits of a risk-proportionate tobacco control policy that understands the need for harm minimization.

After outlining the current situation and the potential for a meaningful change, this report concludes with four key strategic objectives which serve as a call to action. Of these, strategic objective number three stresses the need to create and strengthen ‘independent, science-based consumer groups able to advocate for their oral health needs, based on sound science.’ This objective is further divided by categories of health professional associations, non-profit groups, civil society groups, patient representative groups, philanthropies and the private sector. The report stresses how these actors “play pivotal roles in advocacy, awareness, and programme implementation.” Within each of the categories, the report provides potential actions for change and examples of other organizations that have achieved such change.

It is particularly in this category that any and all of us interested in making a difference can help create change. Whether by volunteering for non-profit organizations that are building grassroots campaigns, working with civil society groups that advocate for oral health policy reforms, using personal experience to share testimonies with patient representative groups or financially assisting organizations in any of these sub-categories that promote oral health and harm reduction, there is always a way to make our voice heard as a direct and indirect stakeholder in the future of tobacco control. This has also been proven to be effective for other public health concerns. As the report shares, it was the activism of HIV/AIDs patients and advocates that led to better policies, better access and a better result, where “millions of people are living longer and healthier lives across LMICs.” Now, it’s our turn to do the same to help curb the most preventable cause of death – tobacco use.