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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.
03:23Our country is gaining nothing.
03:25Dominic Gramroup, TV6 News.
03:26Dominic Gramroup, TV6 News.
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