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Tobacco Control

According to the Tobacco Atlas, tobacco killed nearly 6 million people worldwide in 2011. In the US, about 45 million people use tobacco products. Disease and deaths from tobacco are entirely preventable, and reducing harm is an area that needs continued focus. E-cigarettes offer a potentially promising means of further reducing tobacco use. Studies are needed to answer questions about untoward effects of e-cigarettes. While further innovation is undertaken to develop effective products, it is important to maintain strong corporate standards for quality, prevent marketing to children, and focus on reducing tobacco use.

The Vitality Institute supports smoking cessation efforts and using innovative nicotine-delivery technologies to achieve this. The Institute is studying the effects of incentives for smoking cessation with the University of Pennsylvania Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics (CHIBE) team led by Kevin Volpp, in the United States and South Africa.

The Evidence

Do Workplace Health Promotion (Wellness) Programs Work?

Authors: Goetzel, Ron Z. PhD; Henke, Rachel Mosher PhD; Tabrizi, Maryam PhD, MS; Pelletier, Kenneth R. PhD, MD (hc); Loeppke, Ron MD, MPH; Ballard, David W. PsyD, MBA; Grossmeier, Jessica PhD, MPH; Anderson, David R.... More »

Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine (JOEM) | September 2014

6. The Battle Against Tobacco is not Over but There are Innovative Solutions (Webinar Series)

David Abrams (Legacy) and Mark Cunningham-Hill (Johnson and Johnson)

Watch Past Webinar | February 18, 2015 | 2-3pm ET

New Opportunities in the Changing Landscape of Prevention

By Derek Yach and Chris Calitz The focus of medical research has historically been on curative medicine, yielding better drugs, medical devices, and clinical procedures. Prevention science—the systematic application of scientific methods to the causes... More »

JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) | July 17, 2014

Improving Support for Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention: Summary of Key Messages from Reports of the Institute of Medicine

Leigh Carroll and Bridget B. Kelly, Editors   This paper was commissioned by the Vitality Institute, an organization with a mission to advance knowledge about the evolving science and art of chronic disease prevention and... More »

Institute of Medicine (IOM) | June 18, 2014

Can E-Cigarettes Help You Quit Smoking?

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, but it's also one of the most difficult. There are myriad smoking cessation products available, from the patch to medications and... More »

US News | May 21, 2014

Research to stop tobacco deaths

by Derek Yach, Angela Pratt, Thomas J Glynn and K Srinath Reddy Abstract In 2003, governments adopted the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the world’s first global health treaty. In the decade since the treaty was... More »

Globalization and Health | May 21, 2014

World No-Tobacco Day: Tobacco Use Is on the Rise

It is known to all that tobacco does harm to our health. However, there are still 1.3 billion smokers around the world. Economists predicts that the tobacco use will continue to rise. Smoking cessation can... More »

Huffington Post | May 30, 2013

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Ready for regulation – An interview with Derek Yach

Derek shares his thoughts on pros and cons of e-cigarettes. Click here for full interview.

PowerSmoke.com | October 31, 2013

A Decade of Tobacco Control: The South African Case of Politics, Health Policy, Health Promotion and Behaviour Change

Background: The South African (SA) government has implemented comprehensive tobacco control measures in line with the requirements of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The effect of these measures on smoking prevalence and smoking-related attitudes... More »

The South African Medical Journal | September 30, 2013

The Effects of Obesity, Smoking, and Excessive Alcohol Intake on Healthcare Expenditure in a Comprehensive Medical Scheme

Background. Health risks such as tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption and unhealthy body weight contribute to the development of chronic health problems. Objective. To estimate the associations of tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption and obesity... More »

The South African Medical Journal | September 30, 2013