7 Facts Every Tobacco Control Advocate Should Know

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 06:06:05 -0700

How we talk about tobacco matters. As tobacco control advocates, the information we share can help determine whether policymakers add tobacco control to their priority list or focus on other issues entirely.

To be effective, we must be more than subject matter experts. We must be strategic communicators, tailoring our messages to align with our audience's values. Historically, public health messaging has emphasized the connection between long-term tobacco use and death and disease. However, tobacco use also affects mental health, substance use, academic outcomes, the environment, and the economy—issues that often rank higher among policymakers’ priorities. By focusing on topics that matter to our audience, we can cultivate allies and secure support for our goals.

Here are 7 facts to consider when advocating for tobacco control policies and programs:

1. Tobacco use is the #1 cause of preventable death and disease.

Smoking and vaping both increase the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, oral disease, asthma, and lung disease. In communities with less tobacco use, residents live longer, happier, and healthier lives.^1-2

2. Nicotine is a gateway drug.

Teens who use tobacco are more likely to use other drugs in the future. Exposure to nicotine during adolescence can cause long-term changes to the brain’s reward system and to areas that support decision making. These changes pave the way for addiction to other drugs....Read More

5 Tips to Build Support for Harm Reduction Initiatives

Tue, 23 Oct 2018 15:01:21 -0700

As the opioid epidemic has grown, so has the need for harm reduction.

Harm reduction programs acknowledge that some level of drug use in society is inevitable, but that drug-related death and disease are preventable. A wealth of research shows we can save lives and improve community health by improving access to sterile injection equipment and Naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.

Yet, some decision makers are reluctant to support harm reduction efforts, such as syringe exchange or safe consumption sites. Though public health advocates often use data to make a case, data alone rarely change hearts and minds. We need messages that tap into values and emotions. Here's how to craft them:

1. Humanize addiction.

Building support for new programs means building empathy for the people they will serve. Share the stories and faces of people who have benefited or who could have benefited from harm reduction services. Use “person first” language, such as “people struggling with addiction.” Terms such as “addict” can foster judgmental and punitive attitudes.

2. Normalize harm reduction.

Recognize the role of harm reduction in all of our lives. Everyone needs support to be healthy and safe. People who ride bikes need access to helmets. People who drive cars need access to seatbelts. People who inject drugs need access to sterile injection equipment, Naloxone, and drug treatment when they’re ready.

3. Share your vision.

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7 Facts Every Tobacco Control Advocate Should Know

5 Tips to Build Support for Harm Reduction Initiatives