Philip Morris International has released a white paper titled ‘Unsmoke: Clearing the Way for Change’ based on findings from a major international study conducted by independent research firm Povaddo.
There is no question that, while the best choice is to quit cigarettes and nicotine altogether, the reality is that many people don’t.
The survey – conducted in 13 countries among adults aged 21 to 74 –forms the basis of the paper’s exploration around two core themes: the impact of smoking on personal relationships and the lack of information available about smoke-free products.
It reveals some of the barriers that might be preventing smokers from considering smoke-free alternatives over continued smoking.
According to Marian Salzman, Senior Vice President for Global Communications at Philip Morris International, the company’s #unsmokeyourworld initiative is to speed up a historic change in public health, she says.
The objective of the #unsmoke movement is to bring together a community of people who can accelerate this change by reinforcing the message that quitting cigarettes and nicotine altogether is the best choice any smoker can make and becoming advocates of the message that for smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke, there are better alternatives to choose from.
“There is currently a tremendous amount of misinformation circulating about smoke-free products, and this is causing confusion. It is one of the biggest hurdles the world faces in becoming smoke-free,” said Chief Operating officer at Philip Morris International, Jacek Olczak.
“The reality is there are better options available to adult smokers who don’t quit. There urgently needs to be a new global conversation – based scientific research and facts – about these alternatives.”
To read the full ‘Unsmoke: Clearing the Way for Change’ white paper, visit: www.unsmokeyourworld.com/whitepaper
