Adult Smokers Begin Switching to Alternative Tobacco Products
Nicotine activates the brain to produce the hormone dopamine, which is why smoking is considered to aid focus and concentration. However, this activity brings health problems because cigarette smoke from combustion contains not only nicotine but also tar, which is carcinogenic and can increase the risk of cancer. Currently, adult smokers have the option to switch to alternative tobacco products that do not involve combustion to obtain nicotine.
Paido Siahaan, Chairman of the Indonesian Vape Consumers Association (Akvindo), explained that alternative tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products work by producing a vapour containing nicotine. According to him, through this combustion-free mechanism, consumers or adult smokers can experience comfort with a much lower potential health risk compared to continuing to smoke.
He emphasised that most harmful substances originate from the tobacco combustion process, not from the nicotine itself. “Nicotine is a substance that causes dependence, but it is not the main cause of various smoking-related diseases. Most of the dangers of cigarettes arise when tobacco is burned, because this process produces smoke containing tar, carbon monoxide, and various carcinogenic substances,” he said on Sunday (19/7).
He continued that amidst the growing interest in alternative tobacco products, public education based on facts and scientific evidence needs to be continuously strengthened. According to him, many people still equate all risks associated with nicotine and cigarettes, whereas there is a fundamental difference between the risk of nicotine exposure and exposure to harmful substances produced by tobacco combustion.
“Evidence-based education is important so that the public understands that the levels of risk vary. Consumers need to know that using nicotine still carries risks, albeit minimal, and that the most dangerous aspect is the emergence of harmful substances resulting from the tobacco combustion process,” he added.
Garindra Kartasasmita, Chairman of the Tar and Smoke Free Movement (Gebrak), assessed that the presence of alternative tobacco products in the country is directly correlated with a growing public awareness that increasingly prioritises health aspects and social comfort. He revealed that the popularity of the harm reduction approach is the main driver behind this change in people’s lifestyles.
“Many people are switching precisely because of harm reduction products. Today’s modern society is more concerned about their own health, their family’s health, and the environment,” Garindra explained.
Beyond personal health and environmental factors, the comfort of non-users in the surrounding environment also plays a significant role in the increasing demand for alternative tobacco products. Today’s consumers also tend to be more critical, conducting independent research, from reading reviews to evaluating risk levels, before deciding to purchase official products.
Furthermore, Garindra issued a firm message and warning to all adult consumers and smokers to always act responsibly, including only using legal products, adhering to the age restriction of 21 and above, and avoiding the misuse of vapes. “Use legal products with excise stamps, in sealed packaging, and only purchase from official stores. Vape misuse does occur by a few individuals, and it is the shared duty of law enforcement and the legal industry to jointly combat narcotics,” he concluded.