By Suely Castro
In a world where over one billion people still smoke, the need for effective approaches to end smoking has never been more urgent.
The situation in Malaysia, where six million adults are smokers, presents both a challenge and an opportunity. By adopting the Swedish Experience, Malaysia could save hundreds of thousands of lives.
This was the core message at the recent Quit Like Sweden event in Kuala Lumpur, where national and international public health and public policy experts gathered to discuss the potential of replicating Sweden’s success in reducing smoking rates.
The Swedish Experience
Sweden stands out as a beacon of hope. Sweden has smoking cessation and prevention measures and programmes similar to those of countries at the vanguard of the fight against smoking and of its own European neighbours. And it has a similar nicotine usage rate too. Sweden, however, has achieved much more remarkable public health outcomes. Sweden’s smoking prevalence is of 5.6%, not far from the 5% threshold at which a country can be considered “smoke-free.”
In Sweden, one in four adults uses nicotine daily, yet the country’s cancer incidence is 41% lower than the European average, and smoking-related deaths are less than half of those in 24 of the other 26 EU countries.
This stark contrast underscores the effectiveness of Sweden’s comprehensive approach that combines the measures and programmes already mentioned with policies that enable people who smoke to choose alternatives instead.
The Three A’s: Accessibility, Acceptability, Affordability
Sweden has made alternatives to smoking accessible, acceptable, and affordable. These alternatives include snus, nicotine pouches, vaping and heated tobacco products. This has not only reduced smoking rates but also improved the public health outcomes.
Alternative products in Sweden are Accessible because people who smoke can access them at least where they can access cigarettes. They are Acceptable because people who smoke find them to be realistic options, in a range of flavours and strengths that help quit cigarettes. And they are Affordable because price is never a deterrent to attempt that.
The Malaysian Context
In Malaysia, the adoption of the Swedish Experience could transform public health. The country’s current anti-smoking measures focus primarily on prevention and cessation, which, while important, are not sufficient to address the needs of the six million people who continue to use cigarettes. Introducing policies that enable people who smoke to switch to alternatives could provide these individuals with a practical pathway to reducing their health risks.
At the Quit Like Sweden event in Kuala Lumpur, experts from various fields discussed the potential benefits for Malaysia.
The speakers included leading public health and public policy experts, and people who successfully stopped smoking, all of whom emphasised the urgency of adopting a more pragmatic strategy to end smoking.
Personal Stories and Public Health
For me, this is a personal mission.
My father, an 80-year-old Brazilian man, is a heavy smoker who has struggled with a lifelong addiction to cigarettes. Despite his desire to quit, he has been unable to find a viable alternative that suits his needs.
This highlights a broader issue faced by millions of smokers worldwide: the lack of accessible, acceptable, and affordable alternatives to smoking.
In contrast, any smoker of my father’s generation in Sweden, has the ability to successfully switch and stay away from cigarettes. This has the potential to not only improve their health but also allows them to live a more active and fulfilling life.
This comparison between my father’s situation and that of a similar person in Sweden underscores the transformative potential of the Swedish Experience.
A Call to Action
The message from the Quit Like Sweden event was clear: Malaysia has the opportunity to save hundreds of thousands of lives. The evidence from Sweden is compelling, and the need for action is urgent.
To achieve this, Malaysia must adopt policies that make alternatives to smoking both accessible, acceptable, and affordable to people who smoke. This includes educating the public about their potential.
By doing so, Malaysia can replicate the Swedish Experience and significantly reduce the health burden associated with smoking.
The time to act is now, and the rewards are immense. Let’s make smoking history in Malaysia.
Suely Castro is the founder and director of Quit Like Sweden.