WHO outlines tobacco quit products, leaves out nicotine pouches

The World Health Organization has not included common nicotine products used to quit tobacco sold in Kenya, in its list of solutions.

This supports the Ministry of Health’s long-held stand that the new nicotine delivery products are useless in helping people quit and are harmful.

Instead, the WHO listed behavioural support delivered by health-care providers, digital cessation interventions and pharmacological treatments.

These are the first-ever clinical treatment guidelines for cessation in users who want to quit all forms of tobacco. 

Kenya had 3.1 million tobacco users at the end of 2022, representing about 5.7 per cent of the population.

The current recommendations are relevant for adults seeking to quit tobacco products, including cigarettes, water pipes, smokeless tobacco products, cigars, roll-your-own tobacco and heated tobacco products, WHO said.

This is also the first time the organisation has issued tobacco cessation, since the world’s first anti-tobacco treaty, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, entered into force in 2005.

“This guideline marks a crucial milestone in our global battle against these dangerous products," said Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

"It empowers countries with the essential tools to effectively support individuals in quitting tobacco and alleviate the global burden of tobacco-related diseases.”

Over 60 per cent of the world's 1.25 billion tobacco users – more than 750 million people – wish to quit, yet 70 per cent lack access to effective cessation services, WHO said.

This gap exists due to challenges faced by health systems, including resource limitations.

“The immense struggle that people face when trying to quit smoking cannot be overstated. We need to deeply appreciate the strength it takes and the suffering endured by individuals and their loved ones to overcome this addiction,” said Dr Rüdiger Krech, director of health promotion at WHO.

“These guidelines are designed to help communities and governments provide the best possible support and assistance for those on this challenging journey.”

WHO said combining pharmacotherapy (treatment using drugs as medicine) with behavioural interventions significantly increases quitting success rates.

Behavioural interventions, including brief health worker counselling offered routinely in health-care settings, alongside more intensive support (individual, group, or phone counselling) is recommended for interested users.

Additionally, digital interventions such as text messaging, smartphone apps and internet programmes can be used as adjuncts or self-management tools.

“Countries are encouraged to provide these treatments at no or reduced cost to improve accessibility, particularly in low- and middle-income countries,” the organisation said in a statement.

It recommends varenicline, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), bupropion and cytisine as effective treatments for tobacco cessation.

The organisation encouraged health-care providers, policy-makers and stakeholders to adopt and implement this guideline to promote tobacco cessation and improve the health of millions of people in need worldwide.

In 2023, WHO initiated a prequalification procedure for medicinal products against disorders caused by tobacco use to improve global access to recommended cessation medications.

In April 2024, Kenvue’s nicotine gum and patch became the first WHO-prequalified NRT products.