In our Health Watch segment, one organization, in collaboration with various specialists and advocates, is focusing on eradicating smoking through the use of nicotine devices but warn that the industry must be regulated.
00:00The TV6 Health Watch is brought to you by Alive, giving you more minerals and vitamins than leading brands.
00:06Distributed by H&J Enterprises Ltd.
00:14Speaking at an event hosted by We Are Innovation,
00:17a dynamic network of individuals and institutions who believe in the power of innovation to drive progress and solve the world's most pressing problems.
00:24Chief Operating Officer of the organization, Tatiana Rack, highlighted some surprising statistics about smoking in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:32Here in Trinidad and Tobago, around 19% of adult smoke and smoking causes approximately 5.4% of annual deaths.
00:42Rack believes many smokers around the world want to quit, but they are awaiting one thing, which requires innovation and regulation.
00:49Millions of smokers are waiting for one thing, better choices to become affordable, accessible and acceptable.
00:57Trinidad and Tobago can lead the Caribbean in showing that innovation and regulation can coexist.
01:03In her presentation, Brazilian toxicologist Dr. Ingrid Dragantaricano pointed to a study which noted that smokers smoke for the nicotine,
01:11which has a similar effect to that of dopamine, a hormone in the brain associated with feelings of pleasure and motivation.
01:19But in the cigarettes, tar is the ingredient that truly causes the harm.
01:23If we remember Professor Michael Russo, this verse is very popular and very famous.
01:32People smoke for nicotine, but they die for the tar.
01:36The solution for this in many countries is focus on nicotine delivery devices, because don't have tar.
01:49If the tar is the problem, okay, without tar.
01:53Dr. Dragantaricano, however, cautioned that this information does not mean for non-smokers to begin smoking,
01:59because nicotine is still an issue due to its highly addictive nature.
02:03Therefore, the nicotine-delivered devices should only be used by those who have been smoking.
02:08Okay, nicotine is a molecule very addictive.
02:13It is the problem, it is the focus.
02:16If you never smoke, please don't start.
02:21But if you smoke, we have any options for you, if you smoke, for many years.
02:31Public health advocate Miguel Okumura urges governments and regulators to listen to consumers with regards to nicotine and smoking policies.
02:39He uses his country, Brazil, where nicotine devices are illegal and the nicotine device industry has gone unregulated as an example of the cost it can have on a country.
02:49Brazil is one of the largest bait markets on the world, but it's a market that exists entirely in the shadows.
02:57As a direct result of prohibition, the Brazilian government has handed a billion-dollar industry to organize crime, with zero quality control.
03:07So, selling to minors, because are we expecting that the illicit market, they will follow some rules?
03:16They don't follow rules, they just follow money.
03:20We have zero quality control, zero tax revenue.
Be the first to comment