Quitting Strong: New Zealand’s Smoking Cessation Success Story

Dear friends and colleagues,

My name is Jesper Skalberg Karlsson and I am part of the committee on health and welfare in the Swedish parliament.

Today I want to tell you a story about innovation, legislation and giving consumers the power to make decisions about their own health.

The think tank network We Are Innovation analysed the policy and regulation aimed at reducing smoking prevalence in Sweden and other countries that have prioritised this issue. In addition, We Are Innovation commissioned a poll of ex-smokers in Sweden to find out what had enabled them to switch to safer alternatives. The conclusion is that Accessibility, Acceptability, and Affordability of alternative products were key. The poll is available here.

This is the report on the Swedish Experience, including the conclusions drawn from the policy and regulation analysis, and the poll. (See above.)

The documentary ‘How Sweden Quit Smoking’ shows how Sweden got to the brink of becoming smoke-free. (The documentary is not available online; this is the official trailer.)

This report covers the facts behind the Swedish Experience

This study, presented at the Quit Like Sweden launch event, estimates that around 1.4 million lives could be saved in Brazil if the country adopted the Swedish Experience and the perspective of Public Health experts.

This study shows that, even though almost 1 in 4 adults in Sweden use nicotine daily (the same level as is found across Europe), Sweden’s incidence of cancer is 41% lower than the European average and Sweden suffers less than half of the smoking-related deaths experienced by 24 of its 26 EU neighbours. This is because smokers in Sweden have switched to safer alternatives. (Quit Like Sweden participated in the launch event.)

This study shows that, even though almost 1 in 4 adults in Sweden use nicotine daily (the same level as is found across Europe), Sweden’s incidence of cancer is 41% lower than the European average and Sweden suffers less than half of the smoking-related deaths experienced by 24 of its 26 EU neighbours. This is because smokers in Sweden have switched to safer alternatives. (Quit Like Sweden participated in the launch event.)

The consumer group World Vapers’ Alliance published a factsheet on the Swedish Experience in the context of their campaign ‘Beat Smoking Like the Swedes’.

The consumer group Considerate Pouchers published an open letter on the Swedish Experience in the context of their campaign ‘Making Smoking History’

This infographic shows that accessibility of different alternatives to smoking was key for women in Sweden, whom historically, unlike men, have not chosen snus to switch and stay away from cigarettes.